Decreased Serum Total L-Carnitine Levels Observed in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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Decreased Serum Total L-Carnitine Levels Observed in Women with

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Reference: " Serum total L-carnitine levels in non-obese women with

polycystic ovary syndrome, " Fenkci SM, Karagenc N, et al, Hum Reprod,

2008 Mar 31; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Internal

Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Pamukkale

University, School of Medicine, 20100 Denizli, Turkey. E-mail:

sfenkci@... ).

Summary: In a study involving 27 non-obese women with polycystic ovary

syndrome (PCOS) and 30 healthy, age- and BMI-matched controls, results

indicate that significantly lower serum l-carnitine levels are found in

women with PCOS, compared with controls. Women with PCOS showed

significantly higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, total

testosterone, free androgen index (FAI), luteinizing hormone,

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high density lipoprotein

cholesterol, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR measurement and LH/FSH

ratios than controls. On the other hand, total l-carnitine and sex

hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were found to be significantly

lower in women with PCOS. Additionally, l-carnitine levels were

negatively correlated with free androgen index, and positively

correlated with SHBG. Using multiple regression analysis, SHBG was found

to be a strong predictor of serum total l-carnitine levels. Thus, the

authors of this st udy conclude, " Decreased total l-carnitine levels may

be associated with hyperandrogenism and/or insulin resistance in

non-obese women with PCOS. "

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