Serum Adiponectin Levels in Insulin Resistant Infertile Women

Introduction: Adiponectin, a beneficial adipocytokine plays a crucial role that regulates insulin sensitivity and also has a role in the ovulation process. Visceral adiposity adversely affects the reproductive hormone production and ovulation that impacts fertility in reproductive females. Adiponectin may be considered as the vital link between central obesity and insulin resistance that regulates ovulation to occur. Aim: To compare the levels of Adiponectin in insulin resistant and non-insulin resistant infertile women with ovulatory dysfunction and to correlate Adiponectin levels with hormones such as Luteinising Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), LH/FSH ratio, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), insulin and variables like Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR). Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SRM Medical College and Research centre, Tamil Nadu, India. The study included 88 married women of reproductive age group between 20 to 40 years attending the infertility clinic. All the participants had a complete physical examination with measurements of weight (Kg), height (m), WC (cm) and HC (cm) to calculate the BMI and WHR. After overnight fasting, blood samples were collected on second or third day of menstrual cycle for estimating LH, FSH, TSH, insulin and Adiponectin levels. Based on HOMA-IR calculation the individuals were categorised as Insulin resistant Group (A) n=48 with HOMAIR ≥2 and non-Insulin resistant Group (B) n=40 with HOMAIR