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Objective: The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship of cardiac fat depots with disturbances of the carbohydrate metabolism in women with PCOS., Methods: An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was realized, and metabolic parameters were collected in 48 women with PCOS and in 20 controls. Intramyocardial fat (MYCL) and pericardial fat (PERI) were measured using 1 H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging., Results: Only in PCOS women, PERI was positively and independently related to parameters of glucose metabolism (HbA1c: p = 0.001, fasting plasma glucose: p < 0.001, stimulated glucose at 30 and 60 minutes in the OGTT). Thus, the disposition index, insulin sensitivity, and adiponectin also declined with the increase of PERI in women with PCOS; however, these results were not independent of BMI and age. In addition, PERI was positively related to atherogenic lipid profiles, BMI, waist circumference, CRP, and liver fat in women with PCOS. A negative relation of PERI with triglycerides and a positive relation with BMI and waist circumference could be observed in the controls. No relationship of MYCL with diabetes-specific parameters could be found in the study population., Conclusion: PERI is related to metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS, but not in metabolically healthy lean subjects. This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and has the registration number NCT03204461.

Aim: There is scarce information on associations of adipokines, and concurrent glucose disposal during early pregnancy as performance of oral glucose tolerance is uncommon before 24th gestational week. We sought to examine associations of leptin and adiponectin to insulin sensitivity already at early pregnancy before recommended screening for GDM and to describe trajectories of adiponectin in relation to GDM status., Methods: 216 pregnant women were prospectively included at 16th (IQR: 14-18) gestational week (GW) for fasting adiponectin and leptin with subsequent OGTT testing for evaluation of insulin sensitivity and β -cell function. Follow-ups of adiponectin were performed at further four visits until 8-12 weeks after delivery., Results: In early pregnancy, differences in adiponectin and leptin were significant between GDM women ( n = 82) and controls ( n = 134), whereby those with early GDM (<21st week, n = 49) showed more distinguishing levels (adiponectin: 8.5 ± 3.8 versus 10.4 ± 4.4  μ g/ml, p = 0.004; leptin 93.4 ± 38.5 versus 78.0 ± 39.2  μ g/ml, p = 0.005). Both adipokines were significantly associated with insulin sensitivity and β -cell function. Their attribution for GDM prediction was moderate to fair and more enhanced in early GDM. Trajectories of adiponectin remained constantly lower in GDM women, whereas dynamics in controls showed initially increased concentrations with decreasing tendency until 3rd trimester. After delivery, low adiponectin was associated with glucose dysregulation., Conclusion: Associations of adiponectin and leptin with features of deteriorated glucose metabolism at early gestation may be indicative for the endocrine involvement of adipose tissue in the manifestation of GDM and thus predictive for later impairments in metabolic flexibility in women at risk.

Objective . The aim of this study was to evaluate sex specific differences of metabolic and clinical characteristics of treated hyperlipidemic men and women (HL-men and HL-women). Methods . In this study vascular and metabolic characteristics of 35 HL-women and 64 HL-men were assessed. In addition a sex specific analysis of metabolic and nutritional habits of HL-patients with prediabetes (HL-IGR) was done. Results . HL-women were older and had favourable concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), triglycerides (TG), and triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-ratio) but were also shown to have higher concentrations of lipoprotein-a compared to HL-men. HL-men were characterized as having higher levels of liver-specific parameters and body weight as well as being more physically active compared to HL-women. Brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) was higher in HL-women than HL-men, while no differences in metabolic syndrome and glycemic parameters were shown. HL-IGR-women were also older and still had a better profile of sex specific lipid parameters, as well as a lower body weight compared to HL-IGR-men. No differences were seen in vascular parameters such as the intima media thickness (IMT). Conclusion . HL-women were older and had overall more favourable concentrations of lipid parameters and liver enzymes but did not differ regarding vascular morphology and insulin sensitivity compared to HL-men of comparable body mass index (BMI)., Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests.