The Association Between Serum Nesfatin-1 Levels and Metabolic Parameters in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objective Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder associated with metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic peptide derived from nucleobindin-2, plays a key role in energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. However, existing studies report inconsistent findings regarding its levels and metabolic associations in PCOS, and data from small clinical populations remain limited. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate serum nesfatin-1 levels in women with PCOS and examine their association with metabolic and anthropometric parameters, particularly insulin resistance. Methods This cross-sectional study included 50 women aged 18-35 years, comprising 25 women with PCOS diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria and 25 age-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric parameters were recorded, and fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and serum nesfatin-1 levels were measured using standard biochemical methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using the independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Women with PCOS exhibited significantly higher fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin levels and significantly lower serum nesfatin-1 levels compared to controls (p < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between nesfatin-1 and fasting insulin (r = −0.70, p < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation with fasting blood glucose (r = −0.48, p < 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between nesfatin-1 and BMI (r = −0.17, p = 0.37). ROC curve analysis demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance of nesfatin-1 (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.96). Conclusions Serum nesfatin-1 levels are markedly lower in women with PCOS and are negatively correlated with markers of insulin resistance. These findings indicate a possible role for nesfatin-1 in metabolic dysregulation in PCOS and underscore its potential as a biomarker, although additional large-scale and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these observations.