Plasma sclerostin levels are associated with nutritional status and insulin resistance but not hormonal disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the circulating sclerostin levels with nutritional status, insulin resistance and hormonal disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study involved 98 PCOS inpatients (20 normal weight, 17 overweight and 61 obese) with stable body mass. Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance method in addition to anthropometric measurements (body mass and height). Serum/plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin (with the calculation of homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance-HOMA-IR), estradiol, total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and sclerostin were measured. Free androgen index (FAI) and estradiol/testosterone index were calculated. RESULTS: Plasma sclerostin levels were significantly higher in obese 0.61 (interquartile range 0.53-0.77) ng/mL than in overweight 0.53 (0.49-0.57) ng/mL and normal weight 0.49 (0.42-0.54) ng/mL groups. Plasma sclerostin levels were significantly higher in the subgroup with insulin resistance 0.65 (interquartile range 0.53-0.77) vs. 0.52 (0.46-0.58) ng/mL; p < 0.001, while similar concentrations were observed in subgroups with FAI below and above median. Plasma sclerostin levels variability were explained by BMI (r = 0.40), the percentage of body fat (r = 0.40) and HOMA-IR values (r = 0.34) in multivariable models. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating sclerostin levels in women with PCOS are related to nutritional status and insulin resistance, but not to sex hormone disturbances.