Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels Increase After Bariatric Surgery in Obese Female Patients With and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A meta-analysis of bariatric surgery in patients with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial disease, which is closely related to obesity. This study evaluated the efficacy of bariatric surgery on obesity complicated with PCOS through meta-analysis. PubMed, Cochrane, EMbase, and WOS databases were searched from 2012 to November 2022. Studies on the efficacy of bariatric surgery in the treatment of obesity combined with PCOS were included. Outcome indicators included menstrual abnormalities, BMI, free testosterone, hypertrichosis, and ovarian volume. Methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated, and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Finally, 9 studies were included, and the results of meta-analysis were as follows: After weight loss surgery, menstrual irregularity decreased (RR = -0.83, 95%CI:-1.00∼-0.65, P < 0.00001), and BMI decreased significantly (MD = -13.64, 95%CI:-16.29∼-10.99, P < 0.00001). Free testosterone levels decreased (MD = -22.70, 95 % CI: -36.07 ∼ -9.34, P < 0.00001), the incidence of hypertrichosis decreased (RR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.45-0.88, p = 0.007 < 0.01), and the ovarian volume decreased (MD = -3.09, 5%CI: -5.76 ∼ -0.42, P < 0.00001).

Impact of bariatric surgery on ovarian reserve markers and its correlation with nutritional parameters and adipokines

Introduction

A reduction in anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels at short-term after bariatric surgery (BS) has been previously described. However, an assessment of ovarian reserve at longer-follow up, and a comprehensive evaluation of the potentially implicated factors has not been reported.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Materials and methods

Twenty women aged 18-40 years with BMI 43.95 kg/m2 undergoing BS were studied at baseline (BS0), and at 1 month (BS1), 4 months (BS2), 12 months (BS3), and 24-36 months (BS4) after the surgery. Anthropometrics, reproductive hormones (AMH, FSH, LH, estradiol, testosterone, SHBG, androstenedione), metabolic parameters (adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, insulin), and nutritional blood parameters (markers of nutritional status, vitamins, and minerals) were obtained at each study time point. Antral follicular count (AFC) was assessed by ultrasonography at BS0, BS3, and BS4. Mixed models were used for analysis of longitudinal data.

Results

The mean AMH level was 3.88 ng/mL at BS0, decreased at BS3 (mean= 2.59 ng/mL; p=0.009), and remained stable between BS3 and BS4 (mean= 2.96 ng/mL; p=0.409). We also observed a non-significant decrease in AFC at BS3 (mean=26.14 at BS0, mean 16.81 at BS3; p=0.088) that remained stable at BS4 (mean= 17.86; p=0.731). Mixed models analysis showed: (a) a decrease in 10 kg of body weight was associated with an average decrease of 0.357 ng/mL in AMH (p=0.014); (b) a decrease in 1 BMI point was associated with an average decrease of 0.109 ng/mL in AMH (p=0.005); (c) an increase in 1 µg/mL of adiponectin was associated with an average decrease of 0.091 ng/ml in AMH (p=0.041) Significant positive correlations were found between the AMH levels after BS and plasma concentrations of testosterone, free androgen index, insulin and HOMA index. No significant correlations were detected between AMH levels and nutritional parameters.

Conclusions

Our results were in line with previous observations, showing that AMH levels decreased significantly at 12 months after bariatric surgery, in parallel with a non-significant reduction in AFC. Both ovarian reserve markers showed a later stabilization up to the end of the study. Of note, postoperative AMH levels were positively correlated with key androgen and insulin resistance-related parameters.

Bariatric Surgery in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine condition in premenopausal women and is a common cause of anovulatory subfertility. Although obesity does not form part of the diagnostic criteria, it affects a significant proportion of women with PCOS and is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease. Both PCOS and obesity are known to impact fertility in women; obesity also reduces the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART). With or without pharmacotherapy, lifestyle intervention remains the first-line treatment in women with PCOS and obesity. Bariatric surgery is still an experimental treatment in women with PCOS and subfertility. This review will present an overview of the pathophysiology of PCOS and obesity and the role of bariatric surgery. Although data are sparse regarding the impact of bariatric surgery on subfertility in women with PCOS and obesity, existing studies point to a beneficial role in treating metabolic and reproductive dysfunction.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Fertility Treatment Decisions in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Literature Review

Anti-Mullerian hormone is a robust marker of ovarian reserve and ovarian response in in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, its role extends beyond improving the safety of IVF by aiding in choosing appropriate protocols and dosing. This review looks at the value of pre-treatment anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) value in choosing the appropriate modality of treatment and its predictive ability for the outcomes of such treatment. It briefly addresses the factors that may modulate AMH levels and make clinical decision-making challenging.

Maternal Malnutrition During Pregnancy Among Women with Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

INTRODUCTION

As the utilization of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) continues to rise, it is important to address the nutritional needs of women who had MBS who become pregnant. Not meeting those nutritional needs could lead to complications associated with malnutrition. To better understand the relationship between MBS, pregnancy, and malnutrition, this study sought to determine whether differences exist in the presence of malnutrition during pregnancy in women with a history of MBS compared to women without a history of MBS.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2012 to 2017, which samples 20% of hospital discharges in the USA. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted, and odds rations and 95% confidence intervals were calculated with obesity and MBS as the independent variables and malnutrition during pregnancy as the dependent variable. Covariates included in the multivariate model were age, primary payer, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and depression.

RESULTS

Compared to women who did not have MBS, women who had MBS had higher odds of malnutrition during pregnancy (aOR = 8.33, 95% CI 7.30-9.50), this result was moderated by racial category (aORBlack = 6.35, 95% CI 4.97-8.13; aORwhite = 8.25, 95% CI 7.00-9.73; aORLatina = 10.93, 95% CI 8.38-14.25). Women with obesity also had higher odds of malnutrition during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased odds of malnutrition among women with MBS suggests that it is important to consider tailoring nutrition recommendations to address the different nutritional needs of pregnant women who had MBS and may be at risk for malnutrition.

AMH in Males: Effects of Body Size and Composition on Serum AMH Levels

Serum concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) have been found to decrease with increasing body mass index (BMI) in many studies. It is not yet clear whether this stems from an adverse effect of adiposity on AMH production, or from dilution due to the greater blood volume that accompanies a larger body size. To investigate a possible hemodilution effect, we explored the relationships between serum AMH levels and different parameters of body composition using linear regression models in a cohort of adult males. Body weight, lean mass (LM), and body surface area (BSA) were found to be better predictors of AMH than measures of adiposity, such as BMI or fat mass. Since both LM and BSA correlate with plasma volume better than adipose tissue, we conclude that hemodilution of AMH does occur in adult males and should be considered for normalization in future studies.

The Relationship Between Insulin Resistance and Obesity and Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone Level in Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Retrospective, Single-Center Cohort Study

Background

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is vital in the pathophysiological process of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The exact relationship between obesity and insulin resistance (IR) with AMH levels remains unclear.

Methods

A retrospective, single-center cohort study of 220 women with PCOS who underwent physical, endocrine, and metabolic assessments were performed. Patients were grouped by age, body mass indices (BMI), Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and different phenotypes. Pearson correlation analysis assessed the correlation between AMH and HOMA-IR, BMI, and other PCOS indicators, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine factors influencing AMH.

Results

In 220 patients with PCOS, serum AMH levels decreased with age and were significantly higher in the IR group than in the non-IR group (P < 0.01). AMH increased significantly in anovulatory patients with hyperandrogenemia and/or polycystic ovary, with no significant difference between obese and non-obese individuals. AMH levels correlated positively with luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, fasting insulin (FINS), and HOMA-IR levels; negatively with age and BMI levels (P < 0.05) and weakly with fasting plasma glucose in the classical PCOS phenotype (r=0.148, P < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that age, testosterone, FINS, LH, LH/FSH, and BMI influenced AMH levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Chinese women with PCOS-IR showed associations with greater AMH levels. AMH levels correlated positively with HOMA-IR levels and negatively with BMI. AMH combined with BMI and HOMA-IR levels may help determine PCOS severity.

Adipose tissue and ovarian aging: Potential mechanism and protective strategies

Ovarian aging occurs approximately 10 years prior to the natural age-associated functional decline of other organ systems. With the increase of life expectancy worldwide, ovarian aging has gradually become a key health problem among women. Therefore, understanding the causes and molecular mechanisms of ovarian aging is very essential for the inhibition of age-related diseases and the promotion of health and longevity in women. Recently, studies have revealed an association between adipose tissue (AT) and ovarian aging. Alterations in the function and quantity of AT have profound consequences on ovarian function because AT is central for follicular development, lipid metabolism, and hormonal regulation. Moreover, the interplay between AT and the ovary is bidirectional, with ovary-derived signals directly affecting AT biology. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the complex molecular mechanisms controlling the crosstalk between the AT and ovarian aging, and further discuss how therapeutic targeting of the AT can delay ovarian aging.