Barbara Krzyżanowska-Świniarska

Not insulin but insulin sensivity, leptin, and Cortisol are major factors regulating serum acylated ghrelin level in healthy women

It has been suggested that insulin and glucose are the most important factors for ghrelin secretion. Most of these studies were performed using total ghrelin assays, detecting two forms of ghrelin (acylated and desacyl), derived from the same peptide precursor but having different biological effects. This study was therefore designed to characterize associations between serum acylated ghrelin levels (Ghr), selected adipocytokines, hormones, and carbohydrate metabolism parameters in healthy women in stable energy metabolism. The study was performed on 32 healthy, normal-weight, non-pregnant women with normal [body mass index (BMI) 18.9–24.2 kg/m2] and stable (the difference between two measurements performed within 1 month being less than 0.5 kg) body weight, aged 22–47 yr. Leptin, Ghr, GH, IGF-I, cortisol, insulin, and glucose were measured in the early follicular phase of the menstruation cycle. Insulin sensivity was measured using quantitative insulin sensivity check index (QUICKI). Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance. We found a positive linear correlation between leptin and Ghr (r=0.375; p=0.034) and negative correlation between insulin and Ghr (r=−0.374; p=0.034). GH, IGF-I, adiponectin, and body composition parameters did not correlate with Ghr. In multiple regression analysis only QUICKI, leptin, glucose, and cortisol (positively) and age (negatively) accounted for 50% variation of Ghr. Insulin and BMI did not contribute significantly to the model. Our results suggest that in healthy women basal Ghr level is regulated by multiple factors, mainly by insulin sensivity, leptin, and adrenal glands activity. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the physiological mechanisms involved in acylated Ghr secretion.

Adiponectin, visfatin and regional fat depots in normal weight obese premenopausal women

Normal weight obesity (NWO) is defined as percentage body fat (%BF) above 30% or %BF in the upper tertile in normal weight subjects. Using these criteria, we assessed lipid profiles, glucose metabolism parameters, blood pressure and regional fat in 91 premenopausal women with NWO and 54 age‐matched healthy controls.

Subclinical hypothyroidism in population of aging Polish women and men over 65yrs old and cardiovascular risk factor, endogenous vitamin D levels and its gene receptor polymorphisms – PolSenior Study

Clinical consequences of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) are still controversial, especially in aging persons. Recently the pleiotropic action of vit. D, also the influence on immune system, was shown and discussed. On the basis of randomly selected 723 women and men (382 men) over 65 yrs old from PolSenior Study we developed the frequency of SH in Polish aging population, and we compared the metabolic profile of cases with SH in comparison to healthy controls according to cardiovascular risk factors (CRF). The serum vit. D and its receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms Fok-I and Bsm-I in both these groups were estimated. The elevated serum TSH level (over 4.5 mU/ml) with FT4 range: 10.3-25.7 pmol/l and elevated anti-TPO over 20.0 mU/ml showed 7.9% of women and 4.4% of men. The CRF profile: waist circumference, BMI, serum total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA were comparable in both groups. Also the endogenous vit. D serum levels were comparable between the group of patients with elevated anti-TPO and elevated or decreased TSH in comparison to controls with euthyroidism. However the analysis of Fok-I and Bsm-I polymorphisms of VDR and thyroid immune status showed higher frequency of recessive genotype bb in person with elevated TSH and anti-TPO (p=0.0334). Conclusions: aging people with subclinical hypothyroidism don’t present higher risk for CVD. The relation between vit. D and its receptor gene polymorphisms and thyroid immune status needs further study.