Leptin and adiponectin blood levels in women with premature ovarian failure and age- and weight-matched women with normal menstrual cycles

In Brief Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate leptin and adiponectin blood levels in women with premature ovarian failure (POF) and women with a normal menstrual cycle. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 60 women divided into two groups: the study group (G1) comprising 30 women with POF not receiving hormone therapy for at least 3 months and the control group (G2) comprising 30 women with a normal menstrual cycle. Both groups were age and body mass index (BMI) matched. Results: Study participants had a mean (±SD) age of 34.4 (±5.3) and 34.2 (±5.6) years and mean BMI (±SD) of 24.7 (±6.3) and 24.5 (±4.6) kg/m2 in G1 and G2, respectively. Serum leptin levels were significantly lower in G1 compared with G2 (8.8 ± 12.2 and 12.2 ± 9.7 ng/mL; P < 0.05). Serum adiponectin levels were similar in both groups. Leptin levels were positively correlated to weight (r = 0.38; P = 0.03) but were not correlated to BMI and age in women with POF (G1); in G2, they were positively correlated to BMI (r = 0.59; P = 0.0006), weight (r = 0.63; P = 0.0006), and age (r = 0.40; P = 0.02). Adiponectin levels did not correlate to weight, BMI, or age in both groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that gonadal function loss may decrease leptin circulating levels, independently from age and BMI. Adiponectin seems not to correlate to hormonal status. This study evaluated leptin and adiponectin blood levels in women with hypoestrogenism due to premature ovarian failure and in women with normal menstrual cycles. Results suggest that gonadal function loss may decrease leptin circulating levels, independently from age and body mass index, whereas adiponectin levels seem not to correlate to hormonal status.