Serum BMP8B levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVES To investigate serum brown adipokine BMP8b levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their association with metabolic parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS The present cross-sectional analysis enrolled 80 PCOS-diagnosed women alongside 40 matched controls. Serum levels of BMP8b, lipids, glucose metabolism, and reproductive hormones were assayed. Insulin resistance was assessed by HOMA-IR. RESULTS Patients with PCOS exhibited significantly lower serum BMP8b levels compared to controls (43.11 ± 13.09 vs 106.45 ± 52.32, p < 0.001). In the PCOS group, BMP8b showed significant negative correlations with both BMI (r = -0.240, p < 0.05) and HOMA-IR (r = -0.246, p < 0.05), while in the control group, BMP8b was negatively correlated with TG (r = -0.436, p < 0.05). Notably, pooled analysis of all subjects revealed a strong inverse correlation between BMP8b and total testosterone (T) (r = -0.468, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Reduced BMP8b in PCOS correlates with metabolic dysfunction, suggesting brown adipose tissue as a potential therapeutic target.