Serum Betatrophin Levels in Normal-Weight and Overweight Adolescents With PCOS

Evaluation of Serum Betatrophin Levels in Normal-Weight and Overweight Adolescents With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in adolescents and women of reproductive age and is frequently associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of metabolic complications. The mechanisms underlying these metabolic abnormalities are not fully understood. Betatrophin (angiopoietin-like protein 8, ANGPTL8) is a liver- and adipose tissue-derived protein involved in lipid and glucose metabolism and has been suggested to be associated with insulin resistance and metabolic stress. This study aims to evaluate serum betatrophin levels in adolescents with PCOS compared with age-matched healthy controls. Adolescents with PCOS will also be categorized according to body mass index (BMI) as normal-weight or overweight to investigate the potential influence of body weight. Additionally, the relationships between betatrophin levels and anthropometric parameters, hormonal profiles, and markers of insulin resistance will be examined.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescent females aged 16-23 years
• Post-menarche status
• Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) according to the Rotterdam criteria (for Groups I and II)
• Age-matched healthy females without PCOS for control group (Group III).
• Ability and willingness to provide informed consent/assent
• Willingness to comply with study procedures and blood sample collection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiovascular diseases including hypertension
• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Morbid obesity
• Primary adrenal insufficiency
• Uterine fibroids
• Thyroid dysfunctions including Hashimoto thyroiditis and Grave's disease
• Hepatic dysfunctions
• Renal insufficiency
• Genetic disorders in chromosome constitution or karyotype analysis including monosomy X, trisomy X and gene mutations as BMP15, FMR I, POFIB, and GDF9
• Neurologic diseases
• Psychiatric disorders
• Autoimmune diseases or syndromes including Addison's disease, autoimmune syndromes, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, myasthenia gravis, inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and familial Mediterranean fever
• History of any malignancy
• History of exposure to chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy