Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between spexin levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: The study included 90 participants, comprising 44 patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and 46 age- and body mass index-matched controls. Participants' spexin, glucose, urea, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were measured. The liver steatosis grading was done using the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter from General Electric Healthcare. The parameters were evaluated between the groups. RESULTS: Spexin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome patients were significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.001). Glucose, triglycerides, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were found to be significantly higher in polycystic ovary syndrome patients compared to the control group (p<0.001). High-density lipoprotein levels in polycystic ovary syndrome patients were significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.001). The prevalence of liver steatosis was notably higher among the polycystic ovary syndrome patients compared to the control group (p<0.001). In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, spexin levels demonstrated significant negative correlations with body mass index, glucose, triglycerides, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (all p<0.001). A strong negative correlation was observed between spexin levels and liver steatosis grading (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Spexin is a coordinator in the metabolic relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and liver health, suggesting its utility as a biomarker for detecting liver steatosis and related metabolic disturbances in this population.