Plasma beta-endorphin levels in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary disease

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of body weight on ciru lating plasma levels of beta -endorphin and insulin in women with polycysti c ovary disease (PCOD), as well as the correlation between the plasma level s of beta -endorphin and insulin. One-hundred and sixty-seven consecutive subjects with PCOD were recruited, 117 of whom had normal weight (bony mars index (BMI) < 25) while 50 were ob ese (BMI > 25). A venous blood sample was taken and plasma concentrations o f beta -endorphin, insulin, gonadotropins, prolactin, progesterone, 17 beta -estradiol, estrone, androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and sex hor mone-binging globulin (SHBG) were measured. Mean beta -endorphin and insulin plasma levels were significantly higher (p <0.05) in obese PCOD women than in non-obese ones. Correlation analysis sh owed a positive association between insulin and beta -endorphin, beta -endo rphin and BMI (and weight), insulin and BMI (and weight), and a negative co rrelation was Sound between insulin and SHBG. A weak association was Sound between beta -endorphin and luteinizing hormone (LH) in peripheral plasma. Stratified and linear regression analysis skewed that plasma beta -endorphi n concentrations correlate more with BMI than with insulinemia.