High AMH Levels Are Associated With Gestational Hypertension in Patients With PCOS who Underwent IVF/ICSI-ET

BACKGROUND

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk of obstetric complications. The association between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and gestational hypertension in these patients is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between serum AMH levels and gestational hypertension in patients with PCOS undergoing fresh embryo transfer.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 649 patients with PCOS who had singleton live births after undergoing fresh embryo transfers. The association of AMH with gestational hypertension in these patients was estimated before and after propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Patients with gestational hypertension had higher AMH levels than those without gestational hypertension. In single-factor logistic regression, the odds of gestational hypertension increased by 11.7% and 18.6% for every 1ng/mL increase in AMH before and after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio [OR], 1.117; 95% CI, 1.025-1.217; P = .012; adjusted OR, 1.186; 95% CI, 1.061-1.327; adjusted P = .003), respectively. The odds of gestational hypertension increased more than 100% (adjusted OR, 2.635; 95% CI, 1.132-6.137; adjusted P = .025) in the 75th percentile group (>9.30 ng/mL) and more than 3 times (adjusted OR, 4.75; 95% CI, 1.672-13.495; adjusted P = .003) in the 90th percentile group (>12.31 ng/mL) compared to the without gestational hypertension group. AMH level was still associated with gestational hypertension after propensity score matching. The area under the curve of AMH predicting gestational hypertension was 0.654 (95% CI, 0.532-0.776; P = .011) with an optimal cutoff value of 11.975 ng/mL.

CONCLUSION

High serum AMH level prepregnancy (especially at levels >9.30 ng/mL) indicates a high odds of gestational hypertension in patients with PCOS undergoing fresh embryo transfer.

Cardiometabolic markers and serum amh levels in PCOS: can AMH serve as a surrogate cardiometabolic markeR?

OBJECTIVE

To study the cardiometabolic markers in women in with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) across all phenotypes and its correlation with serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels.

METHODOLOGY

In cross-sectional community-based study aimed to determine the prevalence of PCOS among women aged 19-39 years over 5 years (2018-2022), 10,109 women were found to be eligible from 14,061 approached through a pre validated questionnaire. Out of this cohort, 201 women were diagnosed prior, and from the 2314 probable cases on detailed clinical, ultrasound and hormonal evaluation as per Rotterdam criteria, 860 were true cases. Healthy women from the same community matched for age and BMI, were taken as controls (1174). Both PCOS and healthy controls were assessed for cardio-metabolic indices, including anthropometry (BMI, Waist Circumference (WC), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), biochemistry (OGTT with 75 g glucose, lipid profile, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), visceral adiposity index [VAI], lipid accumulation product [LAP]) and fasting and post prandial insulin. Other hormone assays and AMH levels were also assessed in PCOS and controls. Correlation between serum AMH and cardiometabolic indices was calculated for cases using Pearson's method. Data was analysed using STATA version 18.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Cardio-metabolic profile including obesity/overweight, hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia among PCOS women and their different phenotypes, comparison with controls and correlation with serum AMH levels in cases.

RESULT(S)

In the baseline characteristics, PCOS group had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, 2 h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting, 30 min and two hours post OGTT insulin levels than control group. In lipid profile, PCOS group had lower High Density Lipoprotein-Cholestrol (HDL-C) and higher low Density Lipoprotein-Cholestrol (LDL-C) levels. HOMA-IR, VAI, LAP were significantly higher in PCOS group. When AMH was correlated with various cardio-metabolic indices in women with PCOS, significant positive correlation was found with BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides and very low Density Lipoprotein cholestrol (VLDL-C) VLDL levels. While correlating AMH with cardio-metabolic indices in different phenotypes, PCOS phenotype A, C, and D suggested a significant positive correlation with BMI, waist circumference, post -prandial blood sugar at 30 min and VLDL-C, while phenotype B correlated only with BMI and VLDL levels.

CONCLUSION(S)

A positive correlation could be seen between serum AMH and anthropometric and lipid profile parameters in Indian PCOS women. No such correlation can be established between other insulin resistance markers.

Vitamin D levels and lipid profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women. Dyslipidemia is a prevalent metabolic abnormality in individuals with PCOS. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency is widespread across all societal strata, with a particularly heightened prevalence observed in patients afflicted with PCOS. The present study aimed to investigate the level of vitamin D and its correlation with lipid profiles in Iranian women diagnosed with PCOS.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out at the PCOS and infertility clinic of Arash Women's Hospital in Tehran. The study encompassed the medical records of PCOS patients who attended the clinic from March 2021 to December 2023. All patients underwent blood tests, which included assessments of fasting blood sugar levels, lipid profiles, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. The investigation focused on evaluating the relationship between vitamin D levels and lipid profiles. Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test and Spearman's correlation coefficient, were employed to analyze the data.

RESULTS

A total of 1004 women diagnosed with PCOS were included in the study. The age range of the participants was 14 to 46 years. The majority of the participants had a body mass index (BMI) within the normal range (n = 555, 55.3%). The median vitamin D level among the participants was 26.00 (IQR: 19.00-34.00). The relationship between vitamin D levels and lipid profile parameters was assessed, revealing no significant correlation between vitamin D levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = 0.021, p = 0.505), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = 0.011, p = 0.719), or triglyceride (TG) (r = -0.026, p = 0.417) levels, both in non-adjusted and age-adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSION

According to the present study, there was no significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D deficiency and elevated TG or LDL levels or decreased HDL levels in PCOS patients. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are needed to determine whether there is a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and lipid profile alterations, specifically among PCOS patients.

Dietary acid load and risk of diminished ovarian reserve: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

The epidemiologic evidence on the association between acid load potential of diet and the risk of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is scarce. We aim to explore the possible relationship between dietary acid load (DAL), markers of ovarian reserve and DOR risk in a case-control study.

METHODS

370 women (120 women with DOR and 250 women with normal ovarian reserve as controls), matched by age and BMI, were recruited. Dietary intake was obtained using a validated 80-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The DAL scores including the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) were calculated based on nutrients intake. NEAP and PRAL scores were categorized by quartiles based on the distribution of controls. Antral follicle count (AFC), serum antimullerian hormone (AMH) and anthropometric indices were measured. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable odds ratio (OR) of DOR across quartiles of NEAP and PRAL scores.

RESULTS

Following increase in PRAL and NEAP scores, serum AMH significantly decreased in women with DOR. Also, AFC count had a significant decrease following increase in PRAL score (P = 0.045). After adjustment for multiple confounding variables, participants in the top quartile of PRAL had increased OR for DOR (OR: 1.26; 95%CI: 1.08-1.42, P = 0.254).

CONCLUSION

Diets with high acid-forming potential may negatively affect ovarian reserve in women with DOR. Also, high DAL may increase the risk of DOR. The association between DAL and markers of ovarian reserve should be explored in prospective studies and clinical trials.

Jidong ovarian aging cohort study: Objective, design, and baseline characteristics

BACKGROUND

Ovarian aging is a continuous process comprising a gradual decrease in both the quantity and the quality of the oocytes. A decline in ovarian function leads to chronic disease and physiological problems. The aim of this study is to establish a cohort for the purpose of examining the ovarian aging process and its relationship with health status and quality of life in women across all age groups.

METHOD

This protocol outlines a community-based, prospective long-term observational study involving 1676 women recruited from Caofeidian District in Tangshan City, Hebei Province, China. Data are gathered by the administration of questionnaires, doing physical examinations, performing blood biochemistry tests, and measuring levels of female hormones. The primary outcomes will be the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and other chronic diseases, assessed according to established diagnostic criteria for each disease. The secondary outcome will be the decline in quality of life during the follow-up period, assessed by the modified Kupperman Index. The study comprises a baseline cross-sectional assessment and a follow-up evaluation. The participants will undergo face-to-face interviews as part of their regular medical examinations until 2026 or until the occurrence of outcome events.

DISCUSSION

The results of the prospective study will indicate the association between ovarian aging and the prevalence of chronic diseases as well as diminished quality of life among women across different age categories.

The association of menopause with cardiometabolic disease risk factors in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analyses

IMPORTANCE

Menopause is an integral part of women's health, and studies in high-income countries have shown an increase in cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk factors in postmenopausal compared with premenopausal women. However, to date, no study has combined and assessed such studies across low- and middle-income countries. This would better inform early monitoring and intervention strategies for reducing CMD risk factor levels in midlife women in these regions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate evidence from the literature on differences in CMD risk factors between premenopausal and postmenopausal midlife women living in low- and middle-income countries.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

A systematic review with meta-analysis of original articles of all study designs from the databases PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science was conducted from conception until April 24, 2023. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. Quality assessment of the articles was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, adapted for each study design. The study protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews and adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. For the meta-analysis, fixed-effects models were used to pool the odds ratios (OR), as measures of association.

FINDINGS

Our search identified 4,849 relevant articles: 44 for the systematic review and 16 for the meta-analysis, in accordance with our inclusion criteria. Compared with premenopausal women, the postmenopausal stage was associated with metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.11-1.27]), high waist-to-hip ratio (OR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.12-1.32]), hypertension (OR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.04-1.16]), elevated triglycerides (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.11-1.21]), and elevated plasma glucose (OR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.15-1.28]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study confirmed that CMD risk factors are present at higher levels in postmenopausal than premenopausal women. This demonstrates an urgent need for public health policies that focus on early monitoring and interventions targeted at reducing CMD risk and related adverse outcomes in midlife women in these nations.

Diminished ovarian reserve is associated with metabolic disturbances and hyperhomocysteinemia in women with infertility

BACKGROUND

To distinguish the metabolic profile between women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and those with normal ovarian reserve (NOR).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 524 women under the age of 40 who were experiencing infertility: 261 in the DOR group and 263 in the NOR group. Physical characteristics and metabolic parameters were compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

Women with DOR exhibited a higher propensity for elevated parameters including body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), as well as heightened serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, while concurrently experiencing reduced serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence rates of TG ≥ 1.7 mmol/L, hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, SBP/DBP ≥ 130/85 mmHg, and metabolic syndrome (MS) were significantly elevated within the DOR group as compared to the NOR group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of metabolic disturbances and HHcy were notably elevated in women with infertility and DOR compared to those with NOR.

Anti-Mullerian hormone and cardiometabolic status: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

To summarise the relationship between Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels and cardiometabolic status in different populations.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched for retrieving observational studies published up to February 2022 investigating the relationship between AMH level and cardiometabolic status.

RESULTS

Of 3,643 studies retrieved from databases, a total of 37 observational studies were included in this review. The majority of the included studies revealed an inverse association between AMH and lipid profiles, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and a positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL). While some studies have revealed a significant inverse association between AMH and glycemic parameters, including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR, others found no such relationships. There is also an inconsistency among studies regarding the association of AMH with adiposity indices and blood pressure. Evidence indicates a significant association between AMH and some vascular markers, such as intima-media thickness and coronary artery calcification. Of 3 studies evaluating the relationship between AMH and cardiovascular events, two studies showed an inverse relationship between AMH levels and cardiovascular (CVD), whereas another study showed no significant association.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this systematic review suggest that serum AMH levels can be associated with CVD risk. This may provide new insight into the use of AMH concentrations as a predictive marker for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease, although more well-design longitudinal studies are still necessary for this area. Future studies on this topic will hopefully provide an opportunity to run a meta-analysis; it will increase the persuasiveness of this interpretation.

Diminished ovarian reserve may not be associated with a poorer fresh cycle outcome in women < 38 years

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have discussed the pregnancy outcomes of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) patients. However, data on embryonic development potential, neonatal outcomes, and maternal complications of DOR patients still remained unknown. This is the first study to investigate the risk of DOR on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes among women < 38 years.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients (< 38 years of age) undergoing their first oocyte retrieval cycle were included. Patients were divided into DOR group and non-DOR group. Pregnancy outcomes of fresh cycle and cumulative live birth rate and perinatal outcomes after one oocyte retrieved cycle were compared between DOR and non-DOR group.

RESULT(S)

From January 2016 to September 2020, there were 8,179 patients involved: 443 patients in the DOR group and 7,736 patients in the non-DOR group. The incidences of live birth and clinical pregnancy did not differ significantly between patients with or without DOR after fresh cycle transfer, but the cumulative live birth rate was significantly lower in DOR group. Among women who had singleton live births, after binary logistic regression, the rates of maternal complications and neonatal outcomes were comparable in the two groups.

CONCLUSION(S)

DOR patients (< 38 years of age) showed similar pregnancy outcomes in the first fresh embryo transfer cycle but a lower chance of live birth after a whole oocyte retrieval cycle to non-DOR patients and DOR is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Diminished ovarian reserve is a risk factor for preeclampsia and placental malperfusion lesions

OBJECTIVE

To assess obstetric outcomes and placental findings in pregnancies attained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

University-affiliated tertiary hospital.

INTERVENTIONS

DOR, defined as an antral follicle count (AFC) of 6 or less (DOR group), compared with patients with no DOR and an antral count above 6 (control group).

PATIENTS

Live singleton births after IVF between 2009 and 2017.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes were placental findings, including anatomic, inflammatory, vascular malperfusion, and villous maturation lesions, as categorized according to the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus. Secondary outcomes included obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 110 deliveries of patients with DOR were compared with 772 controls. Maternal age was higher in the DOR group than in the control group (36.3 ± 4.4 years vs. 35.3 ± 4.1 years, P=.02). Patients with DOR were more likely to have a diagnosis of endometriosis (P=.02) and less likely to have a diagnosis of male factor (P<.001), ovulation disorder (P<.001), or tubal factor (P=.04), or a transfer of a blastocyte (P=.007). After adjustment for confounders, pregnancies in the DOR group were notable for a significantly higher rate of preeclampsia (8.1% vs. 2.7%, adjusted odds ratio: 3.05, 95% confidence interval: 1.33-6.97). On placental examination, DOR was associated with a higher rate of fetal vasculopathy (P=.01) and multiple fetal vascular malperfusion lesions (P=.03), and a lower rate of circummarginate insertion (P=.01) and intervillous thrombosis (P=.02).

CONCLUSION

DOR, specifically defined as an AFC of 6 or less, is associated with a higher incidence of preeclampsia and multiple placental fetal vascular lesions.

The independent associations of anti-Müllerian hormone and estradiol levels over the menopause transition with lipids/lipoproteins: The Study of Women's health Across the Nation

BACKGROUND

The menopause transition (MT) is linked to adverse changes in lipids/lipoproteins. However, the related contributions of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E2) are not clear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the independent associations of premenopausal AMH and E2 levels and their changes with lipids/lipoproteins levels [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein B (apoB) and apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1)] over the MT.

METHODS

SWAN participants who transitioned to menopause without exogenous hormone use, hysterectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy with data available on both exposure and outcomes when they were premenopausal until the 1st visit postmenopausal were studied.

RESULTS

The study included 1,440 women (baseline-age:mean±SD=47.4±2.6) with data available from up to 9 visits (1997-2013). Lower premenopausal levels and greater declines in AMH were independently associated with greater TC and HDL-C, whereas lower premenopausal levels and greater declines in E2 were independently associated with greater TG and apo B and lower HDL-C. Greater declines in AMH were independently associated with greater apoA-1, and greater declines in E2 were independently associated with greater TC and LDL-C.

CONCLUSIONS

AMH and E2 and their changes over the MT relate differently to lipids/lipoproteins profile in women during midlife. Lower premenopausal and/or greater declines in E2 over the MT were associated with an atherogenic lipid/lipoprotein profile. On the other hand, lower premenopausal AMH and/or greater declines in AMH over the MT were linked to higher apo A-1 and HDL-C; the later found previously to be related to a greater atherosclerotic risk after menopause.

Assessment of ovarian reserve in patients with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Current knowledge about the ovarian reserve in patients with type 1 diabetes is inconsistent and based on studies with small sample size. This meta-analysis aimed to produce a comprehensive evaluation on the ovarian reserve of type 1 diabetes female patients and to analyze the associated factors with the ovarian reserve.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted for studies published from the inception to December 2021. Original human observational studies either with case-control, cross-sectional, or longitudinal design evaluating ovarian reserve markers between type 1 diabetes patients and healthy controls were included. Levels of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2) were extracted.

RESULTS

It was indicated that women with type 1 diabetes were associated with decreased levels of AMH compared with healthy controls (weighted mean difference [WMD] -0.70 ng/ml, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -1.05 to -0.34 ng/ml, P = 0.0001). Subgroup analyses stratified by age showed that adult patients with type 1 diabetes were associated with decreased levels of AMH (WMD -0.70 ng/ml, 95% CI -1.06 to -0.34 ng/ml, P = 0.0001) and FSH (WMD -1.07 IU/L, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.39 IU/L, P = 0.002) compared with healthy controls. Meta-regression analysis showed no significant correlation between AMH, FSH, and clinical factors, while level of E2 was negatively correlated with daily insulin doses and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values.

CONCLUSION

According to this meta-analysis, type 1 diabetes might be associated with decreased AMH levels. Further studies using different markers and fertility outcomes focus on the ovarian reserve of women with type 1 diabetes are urgently needed.

Correlation of serum anti-Mullerian hormone with hormonal and environmental parameters in Brazilian climacteric women

This study aimed to identify the correlation among anti-Mullerian Hormone serum levels and 25-OH-D, obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and sexual hormones in climacteric women classified according to stages of reproductive aging (SRA). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 177 Brazilian climacteric women between 40 and 64 years old. Concentrations of AMH were measured using the Access 2 Immunoassay System. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the relationship among AMH, 25-OH-D, obesity, MetS, sexual hormones, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. AMH levels decreased with increased age (B = - 0.059; p < 0.001), and reproductive aging (B = - 0.483; p < 0.001). Obesity indicators, lifestyle characters, 25-OH-D levels and MetS were not significantly associated with AMH serum concentration. Negative correlation was found for FSH (B = - 0.009; p < 0.001) and LH (B = - 0.006; p = 0.004); positive correlation for E2 (B = 0.001; p = 0.011), DHEAS (B = 0.003; p < 0.001) and SHBG (B = 0.003; p = 0.005). In the model adjusted for SRA, FSH levels (p < 0.001) and DHEAS (p = 0.014) were associated with AMH. Although, with the adjustment for age, only FSH remained with a significant association (p = 0.001). Of the other analytes, none was associated with AMH, regardless of the model fit. Our findings confirm that serum AMH level decreased with age and FSH levels, but there is no correlation between AMH with obesity, 25-OH-D, MetS or other sexual hormones in Brazilian climacteric women.

Age at natural menopause in women with a history of chronic diseases-A population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to determine whether chronic diseases can influence age at natural menopause (ANM).

STUDY DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

This population-based prospective study recruited all eligible women from participants in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). The Cox proportional-hazards model (unadjusted and adjusted) was used to assess associations of ANM with chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and thyroid disorders, which were not included simultaneously in the model because there were correlations between chronic diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 4662 women, aged 15-50 years, who had not reached menopause at initiation of the TLGS were included. Of these women, 1220 (26.2%) experienced menopause during the study follow-up. In the multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for potential confounders, women with DM [HR:1.75; 95%CI: (1.32, 2.32)], HTN [HR: 2.11; 95%CI: (1.64, 2.72)], MetS [HR: 2.01; 95%CI: (1.57, 2.58)], CVD [HR: 3.02; 95%CI: (1.93, 4.73)], CKD [HR: 2.64; 95%CI: (2.16, 3.22)], and thyroid disorders [HR: 1.41; 95%CI: (1.06, 1.88)] reached menopause earlier, while dyslipidemia was not associated with ANM.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that women with a history of chronic diseases, such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular events, and CKD, experience menopause earlier than their counterparts without such a history.

The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Its Phenotypes and Cardio-Metabolic Features in a Community Sample of Iranian Population: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), its phenotypical and cardio-metabolic features in a community sample of the Iranian population in comparison to healthy eumenorrheic, non-hirsute women without polycystic ovaries. The second aim was to assess the cardio-metabolic characteristics of women who suffered from one criteria of PCOS compared to those healthy eumenorrheic, non-hirsute women.

Methods

In this cross-sectional population-based study, a total of 1,960 eligible women, aged (18-45 years) were recruited from the Tehran-Lipid and Glucose-Study participants and were classified as the three groups of (i) women with PCOS by the Rotterdam criteria, (ii) non-PCOS women with one criteria of PCOS and (iii) healthy eumenorrheic, non-hirsute women without polycystic ovaries morphology (PCOM) as the control group. Further PCOS women were extended to four phenotypes of hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovaries (phenotype A), hyperandrogenism, oligo/anovulation (phenotype B), hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries (phenotype C) and oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovaries (phenotype D). Cardio-metabolic profiles and the prevalence of comorbidities of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and lipid abnormalities were compared among these groups linear, and the median regression models adjusted for age and body mass index.

Results

The prevalence of PCOS according to the diagnostic criteria of the NIH, Rotterdam and AE-PCOS Society were 13.6, 19.4, and 17.8, respectively. Among those who met the Rotterdam criteria, 23.9, 46.3, 21.6, and 8.2% had phenotypes A, B, C, and D, respectively. Among the remaining 1,580 women who did not fulfil the PCOS criteria, 108 (6.8%) suffered from only oligo/anovulation, 332 (21%) only hyperandrogenism/hyperandrogenemia, 159 (16.2%) only PCOM in ultrasound and 981 (62%) were healthy eumenorrheic, non-hirsute women without PCOM. The study revealed that some adiposity indices and lipid abnormalities in PCOS phenotypes with hyperandrogenism (A, B, and C) were worse than in healthy women. By contrast, women with phenotype D did not differ from the healthy ones in terms of adiposity and lipid abnormalities. However, the respective values for other cardio-metabolic profiles and MetS rates in different phenotypes of PCOS were similar to the healthy women. Only the prevalence of MetS in phenotype A was significantly higher than in the healthy women. There were no statistically significant differences between participants with one criteria of PCOS and healthy counterparts in terms of most adiposity indexes, cardio-metabolic factors, and comorbidity of MetS and its components. However, women with hyperandrogenism had a significantly higher level of the waist to height ratio (WHtR) and hypertriglyceridemia than their healthy counterparts.

Conclusion

PCOS, mainly classical phenotypes A and B, are common among Iranian women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS who had androgen excess exhibited the worst lipid profile, and those who had full three criteria of the syndrome exhibited the higher rate of MetS. However, women with only ovulatory dysfunction and only PCOM had similar cardio-metabolic characteristics, compared to healthy subjects. These data suggest that routine screening for metabolic disturbances may be needed in the prevention of cardio-metabolic disorders in patients with more serious phenotypes of PCOS.

Sex Differences in Myocardial and Vascular Aging

It is well known that cardiovascular disease manifests differently in women and men. The underlying causes of these differences during the aging lifespan are less well understood. Sex differences in cardiac and vascular phenotypes are seen in childhood and tend to track along distinct trajectories related to dimorphism in genetic factors as well as response to risk exposures and hormonal changes during the life course. These differences underlie sex-specific variation in cardiovascular events later in life, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. With respect to cardiac phenotypes, females have intrinsically smaller body size-adjusted cardiac volumes and they tend to experience greater age-related wall thickening and myocardial stiffening with aging. With respect to vascular phenotypes, sexual dimorphism in both physiology and pathophysiology are also seen, including overt differences in blood pressure trajectories. The majority of sex differences in myocardial and vascular alterations that manifest with aging seem to follow relatively consistent trajectories from the very early to the very later stages of life. This review aims to synthesize recent cardiovascular aging-related research to highlight clinically relevant studies in diverse female and male populations that can inform approaches to improving the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of cardiovascular disease risks in the aging population at large.

Cholesterol metabolism is decreased in patients with diminished ovarian reserve

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does cholesterol metabolism differ in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) compared to patients with normal ovarian reserve (NOR)?

DESIGN

The current research included 72 women with NOR and 86 women with DOR. Data on the cholesterol metabolism in granulosa cells of these women were analysed.

RESULTS

On the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin injection, serum oestradiol and progesterone in the DOR group were significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein between the NOR and DOR groups. The cholesterol-regulated gene SCAP in granulosa cells from women with DOR was down-regulated (P = 0.024). Cholesterol synthesis and transport genes (e.g. IDI1, FDFT1, CYP51A1, SRB1 and STARD1) were also significantly decreased (P = 0.026, P = 0.044, P = 0.049, P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). In granulosa cells of patients with DOR, cholesterol-related substances such as coprostanone, 11A-acetoxyprogesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone were significantly reduced (P = 0.0008, P = 0.0269, P = 0.0337, respectively). CYP19A1, a key steroidogenesis gene, was significantly reduced (P = 0.009). 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and oestradiol decreased (P = 0.004 and P = 0.039, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Decreased cholesterol metabolism affecting steroid hormone synthesis in granulosa cells might be a possible mechanism for DOR.

Anti-mullerian hormone attenuates insulin resistance and systemic inflammation in old obese C57BL/6 male mice

Purpose

Epidemiological studies show that Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is inversely correlated with age, obesity-related diseases, and all-cause mortality in men. To further investigate the role of AMH in aging and obesity, we studied the effect of AMH treatment on the inflammatory and metabolic parameters and weight in old male C57BL/6 mice.

Method

Thirty-six old male C57BL/6 mice (18 month-old) were either on the High-Fat Diet (HFD) or Normal Diet (ND). When obesity occurred in the HFD group, each group was divided into two subgroups; AMH-treated (ND^+AMH and HFD^+AMH) or controls (ND and HFD). The AMH subgroup received 15 ng/gbw of recombinant AMH injection every 48 h in four weeks. Then, serum AMH, CRP, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR were measured and analyzed.

Results

AMH injection decreased CRP level (HFD =622.86±25.73, HFD^+AMH =543.2±24.99 ng/ml, p= 0.003), fasting insulin (HFD=1.50± 0.34, HFD^+AMH =0.8±0.25 ng/ml, p=0.006) and HOMA-IR (HFD=12.76± 2.88, HFD^+AMH =7.06±2.31, p=0.008) in the obese old mice comparison with control. In ND group, just CRP levels dropped following AMH injection (ND=451.24±20.61, ND^+AMH= 326.8±23.76 ng/ml; p=0.001). Accelerated weight gain was observed in HFD^+AMH compared with the HFD subgroup (p<0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, increasing the circulating level of AMH could subside the systemic inflammation through decreasing CRP levels regardless of diet type and enhance insulin sensitivity in old obese mice. It can also lead to higher weight gain, without inflammation, in old obese male mice who are on an HFD.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Female Reproduction

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), also called Müllerian inhibiting substance, was shown to be synthesized by the ovary in the 1980s. This article reviews the main findings of the past 20 years on the regulation of the expression of AMH and its specific receptor AMHR2 by granulosa cells, the mechanism of action of AMH, the different roles it plays in the reproductive organs, its clinical utility, and its involvement in the principal pathological conditions affecting women. The findings in respect of regulation tell us that AMH and AMHR2 expression is mainly regulated by bone morphogenetic proteins, gonadotropins, and estrogens. It has now been established that AMH regulates the different steps of folliculogenesis and that it has neuroendocrine effects. On the other hand, the importance of serum AMH as a reliable marker of ovarian reserve and as a useful tool in the prediction of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and primary ovarian failure has also been acknowledged. Last but not least, a large body of evidence points to the involvement of AMH in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Associations between dyslipidaemia and pregnancy outcomes in the first complete cycle of IVF/ICSI: a real-world analysis

RESEARCH QUESTION

Are there associations between dyslipidaemia and pregnancy outcomes in the first complete cycle of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)?

DESIGN

This long-term, retrospective real-world analysis involved 5030 infertile women who underwent a first complete IVF/ICSI cycle between January 2015 and October 2020. They were categorized into dyslipidaemia (n = 1903) and control (n = 3127) groups according to serum lipid concentrations before ovarian stimulation. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used to control for confounding variables.

RESULTS

In the raw cohort, women with dyslipidaemia had a significantly increased late miscarriage rate (P = 0.039), decreased term birth rate (P = 0.002) and decreased live birth rate (P = 0.005) compared with non-dyslipidaemic women. In the propensity score-matched cohort, the term birth rate (P = 0.038) and live birth rate (P = 0.044) were significantly lower in the dyslipidaemia group (n = 1686) than the controls (n = 1686). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that infertile women with dyslipidaemia (P = 0.026) and elevated serum total cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol ≥5.20 mmol/l; P = 0.028) were significantly less likely to have a live birth. Rates of late miscarriage (P = 0.027), term birth (P = 0.003) and live birth (P = 0.010) differed significantly among women with normal, borderline increased and increased serum lipid concentrations. Compared with controls, women with increased serum lipid concentrations had a significantly higher late miscarriage rate, lower term birth rate and lower live birth rate. Women with increased serum lipid concentrations were significantly less likely than controls to have a live birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Dyslipidaemia, total cholesterol ≥5.20 mmol/l and degrees of elevated serum lipid concentrations are negatively associated with live birth rate in the first complete IVF/ICSI cycle in infertile women.

Correlations among anti-Müllerian hormone levels, body mass index and lipid profile in reproductive-aged women: The Korea Nurses' Health Study

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the correlations among anti‐Müllerian hormone levels, body mass index and lipid profile in female nurses of reproductive age.

Design

This is a descriptive cross‐sectional study that used data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study, based on Nurses' Health Study 3 in the United States.

Methods

Participants included 448 female nurses of reproductive age. They provided details about their work experience, shift work, body mass index and history of polycystic ovary syndrome. Serum anti‐Müllerian hormone levels and lipid profile were measured using blood samples. Statistical analysis included quantile regression analysis using STATA 13.0. Data were collected between November 2016 and March 2017 from Module 5 of the Korean Nurses' Health Study.

Results

Approximately 12% of the participants were underweight, and roughly one‐tenth were either overweight or obese. Although linear regression showed no relationship between anti‐Müllerian hormone levels and body mass index, quantile regression showed that body mass index, total cholesterol levels and low‐density lipoprotein levels were negatively correlated with anti‐Müllerian hormone levels at the lower tails of the dependent variable. Meanwhile, high‐density lipoprotein levels were positively correlated with anti‐Müllerian hormone at the higher percentiles of anti‐Müllerian hormone levels.

Conclusion

These findings suggest the possibility that changes in the lipid profile may influence anti‐Müllerian hormone levels in women with diminished ovarian function, rather than obesity itself.

Serum metabolomics study of women with different annual decline rates of anti-Müllerian hormone: an untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based study

STUDY QUESTION

Which metabolites are associated with varying rates of ovarian aging, measured as annual decline rates of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Higher serum concentrations of metabolites of phosphate, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, branched chained amino acids (BCAAs), proline, urea and pyroglutamic acid were associated with higher odds of fast annual decline rate of AMH.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Age-related rate of ovarian follicular loss varies among women, and the factors underlying such inter-individual variations are mainly unknown. The rate of ovarian aging is clinically important due to its effects on both reproduction and health of women. Metabolomics, a global investigation of metabolites in biological samples, provides an opportunity to study metabolites or metabolic pathways in relation to a physiological/pathophysiological condition. To date, no metabolomics study has been conducted regarding the differences in the rates of ovarian follicular loss.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This prospective study was conducted on 186 reproductive-aged women with regular menstrual cycles and history of natural fertility, randomly selected using random case selection option in SPSS from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

AMH concentrations were measured at baseline (1999-2001) and the fifth follow-up examination (2014-2017), after a median follow-up of 16 years, by immunoassay using Gen II kit. The annual decline rate of AMH was calculated by dividing the AMH decline rate by the follow-up duration (percent/year). The women were categorized based on the tertiles of the annual decline rates. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of the fasting-serum samples collected during the second follow-up examination cycle (2005-2008) was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A combination of univariate and multivariate approaches was used to investigate the associations between metabolites and the annual decline rates of AMH.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

After adjusting the baseline values of age, AMH and BMI, 29 metabolites were positively correlated with the annual AMH decline rates. The comparisons among the tertiles of the annual decline rate of AMH revealed an increase in the relative abundance of 15 metabolites in the women with a fast decline (tertile 3), compared to those with a slow decline (tertile 1). There was no distinct separation between women with slow and fast decline rates while considering 41 metabolites simultaneously using the principal component analysis and the partial least-squares discriminant analysis models. The odds of fast AMH decline was increased with higher serum metabolites of phosphate, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, BCAAs, proline, urea and pyroglutamic acid. Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, BCAAs metabolism and aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis were among the most significant pathways associated with the fast decline rate of AMH.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Estimating the annual decline rates of AMH using the only two measures of AMH is the main limitation of the study which assumes a linear fixed reduction in AMH during the study. Since using the two-time points did not account for the variability in the decline rate of AMH, the annual decline rates estimated in this study may not accurately show the trend of the reduction in AMH. In addition, despite the longitudinal nature of the study and statistical adjustment of the participants' ages, it is difficult to distinguish the AMH-related metabolites observed in this study can accelerate ovarian aging or they are reflections of different rates of the aging process.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Some metabolite features related to the decline rates of AMH have been suggested in this study; further prospective studies with multiple measurements of AMH are needed to confirm the findings of this study and to better understand the molecular process underlying variations in ovarian aging.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study, as a part of PhD thesis of Ms Nazanin Moslehi, was supported by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (10522-4). There were no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Do trends of adiposity and metabolic parameters vary in women with different ovarian reserve status? A population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether trends of adiposity and glucose metabolism parameters in women with low ovarian reserve status based on their anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels differ from those with high ovarian reserve.

METHODS

In this population-based prospective study, eligible women, aged 20 to 50 years, were selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were applied to compare changes in various adiposity and metabolic parameters across time between women in the first and fourth quartiles of age-specific AMH, after adjustment for confounders. Pooled logistic regression was used to compare progression of prediabetes mellitus (pre-DM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) between the women of these two age-specific AMH quartiles.

RESULTS

In this study of a total of 1,015 participants and with a median follow-up of 16 years, we observed that over time, both groups of women in the first and fourth quartiles of age-specific AMH experienced significant positive trends in their adiposity indices including central obesity, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), a body shape index (ABSI), and a negative trend in visceral adiposity index (VAI), whereas there was no significant difference in these parameters between the two groups. This study revealed that odds ratios of diabetes and prediabetes in women in the first quartile of age-specific AMH were not significantly different, compared with those in the fourth quartile.

CONCLUSION

Women with lower ovarian reserve do not experience different over time trends of adiposity and glucose metabolism parameters during their reproductive life span.

AMH Is a Good Predictor of Metabolic Risk in Women with PCOS: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between metabolic risk and ovarian function is ambiguous. This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 461 PCOS patients collected between January 2019 and June 2020 to investigate the relationship between serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and parameters of metabolic risk in the population with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

A total of 461 PCOS patients aged 20-40 years were included and stratified into four groups according to the AMH level. The association between AMH and the parameters related to metabolic risk in these groups was compared, and the discrepancies were further explored. Binary logistic regression was performed to examine the risk factors of HOMA-IR. The values of AMH that best predicted the risk of HOMA-IR were also analyzed by ROC curves.

RESULTS

AMH was negatively associated with HOMA-IR (odds ratio (OR) -0.279, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.36 to -0.20), fasting insulin (OR -0.282, 95% CI -0.36 to -0.20), 1-hour postprandial insulin (OR -0.184, 95% CI -0.28 to -0.11), 2-hour postprandial insulin (-0.180, 95%CI -0.28 to -0.11), 3-hour postprandial insulin (OR -0.198, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.13), waist-hip ratio (OR -0.235, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.14), and body mass index (OR -0.350, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.27). There was no statistically significant relationship between blood pressure, serum glucose profile, or lipid levels and AMH. Binary logistic regression showed that AMH protected against the occurrence of PCOS patients (OR: 0.835, 0.776, and 0.898). For the prediction of HOMA-IR, AMH had an AUC-ROC of 0.704 (95% CI 0.652-0.755) with a cutoff value of 7.81 mmol/L, a sensitivity of 70.3%, and a specificity of 70.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher AMH levels were significantly associated with a lower insulin profile and might be a useful predictor for HOMA-IR in PCOS patients.

Increased Body Mass Index Is Associated With A Nondilutional Reduction in Antimüllerian Hormone

CONTEXT

Controversy exists regarding if and how body mass index (BMI) impacts antimüllerian hormone (AMH) in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Understanding the BMI-AMH relationship has critical implications for clinical interpretation of laboratory values and could illuminate underlying ovarian physiology.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypotheses that (1) BMI is associated with reduced AMH in PCOS and ovulatory controls (OVAs) and (2) the reduction in AMH is not accounted for by dilutional effects.

DESIGN/SETTING

Multicenter cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 25 to 40 years from 2 clinical populations: 640 with PCOS, 921 women as OVAs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Ovarian reserve indices: AMH, antral follicle count (AFC), and AMH to AFC ratio (AMH/AFC) as a marker of per-follicle AMH production.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, increasing BMI and waist circumference were associated with reductions in AMH and AMH/AFC, after adjusting for age, race, smoking, and site in multivariate regression models. Increasing BMI was associated with reduced AFC in PCOS but not OVAs. Body surface area (BSA), which unlike BMI is strongly proportional to plasma volume, was added to investigate a potential dilutive effect of body size on AMH concentrations. After controlling for BSA, BMI retained independent associations with AMH in both cohorts; BSA no longer associated with AMH.

CONCLUSIONS

In an adjusted analysis, BMI, but not BSA, was associated with reduced AMH; these data do not support a role for hemodilution in mediating the relationship between increased body size and reduced AMH. Decreased AMH production by the follicle unit may be responsible for reduced AMH with increasing BMI.

Association of the functional ovarian reserve with serum metabolomic profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a cross-sectional study of ~ 400 women

BACKGROUND

Women with diminished ovarian reserve are known to have increased cardiovascular risk, whether there is a continuous association between the ovarian reserve biomarkers; anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC) and cardio-metabolic risk factors are unknown.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 398 women intending to undergo IVF with pre-treatment early follicular AMH and AFC measurements. Serum lipids, lipoprotein subclasses and low-molecular-weight metabolites were quantified by NMR spectroscopy (155 metabolic measures). Associations were analysed using multivariable regression.

RESULTS

Participants were mean 35.5 (SD 4.43) years old and had a median AMH of 16 pmol/l (IQR 8.8, 28.0 pmol/l) and a median AFC of 12 (IQR 7.16). AMH showed positive associations with HDL, omega-6 and polyunsaturated fatty acids and the amino acids isoleucine, leucine and tyrosine, with effects ranging from 0.11 (95%CI 0.004 to 0.21) for total lipids in small HDL to 0.16 (0.06 to 0.26) for isoleucine, for a mean difference of one SD of metabolite per one SD increment in AMH, and negatively with acetate: - 0.31(- 0.22, - 0.004) SD per 1 SD AMH. AFC was positively associated with alanine, glutamine and glycine. Results were consistent, though less precisely estimated, when restricted to those women who were preparing for treatment because of their partner's infertility.

CONCLUSIONS

In women intending to have IVF, AMH and AFC were not associated with traditional lipid measured but were associated with a number of novel cardiovascular risk factors. Prospective studies will be required for replication, determination of causality and confirmation that ovarian reserve is impacting on metabolism rather than variation in metabolism is influencing ovarian reserve.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Concentrations Are Inversely Associated With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Premenopausal Women

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which is secreted by granulosa cells of late preantral and small antral follicles, is a marker of ovarian reserve. The association of ovarian reserve with subclinical atherosclerosis in women of reproductive age is currently unknown. We primary investigated whether AMH levels are associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy, normally menstruating women. In this cross-sectional study, vascular structure and function were assessed by measurement of carotid and femoral intima–media thickness (IMT), flow-mediated dilation, carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. Lipid profile and serum AMH concentrations were also measured. Seventy premenopausal women, aged 32.7 ± 6.5 years, were included. Mean AMH levels were lower in smokers than in non-smokers and negatively associated with total cholesterol (TC) levels. An inverse association between mean AMH concentrations and femoral and carotid IMT in all segments was observed. No correlation with other markers of subclinical atherosclerosis or established cardiovascular (CV) risk factors was found. After multivariable adjustment, the association between AMH concentrations and combined carotid IMT or carotid bulb IMT remained significant. In conclusion, in healthy, normally ovulating women, AMH concentrations are negatively associated with subclinical atherosclerosis indices and TC levels, independently of established CV risk factors.

Associations Between Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Cardiometabolic Health in Reproductive Age Women Are Explained by Body Mass Index

CONTEXT

The relationship between reproductive and cardiometabolic aging is unclear. It is unknown if the relationship differs across different clinical populations.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether markers of ovarian reserve are associated with cardiometabolic risk in reproductive aged women with unexplained infertility (UI), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and regularly cycling women (OVA).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional data from 8 US-based academic centers.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 25-40 from 3 clinical populations: 870 with UI, 640 with PCOS, and 921 community-based OVA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Multivariable linear regression models were used to relate anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count with cardiometabolic parameters including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipids, and C-reactive protein.

RESULTS

In age and study site-adjusted models, AMH inversely related to BMI in the UI and OVA groups (P = 0.02 and P < 0.001). Among women with PCOS, AMH inversely related to BMI (P < 0.001), and also to WC (P < 0.001), fasting insulin (P < 0.01), HOMA-IR (P < 0.01), triglycerides (P = 0.04), and C-reactive protein (P < 0.001) and directly related to higher total (P = 0.02), low-density lipoprotein (P < 0.01), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.01). In OVA, AMH also varied inversely with WC (P < 0.001), fasting insulin (P = 0.02), and HOMA-IR (P = 0.02). Adjustment for BMI eliminated associations in the OVA group but in PCOS, the relationship of AMH to total (P = 0.03) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.003) remained.

CONCLUSION

Associations observed between AMH and cardiometabolic indices are largely explained by BMI in women with and without PCOS. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab XX: 0-0, 2019).

Is the low AMH level associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease in obese pregnants?

Our aim was to investigate whether Antimullerian Hormone (AMH), complete blood count (CBC), Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and weight gain have any diagnostic value for the prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in obese and non-obese pregnant patients. A prospective, case-control study was carried out, including 187 patients (93 obese, and 94 non-obese). CVD risk for each patient was evaluated according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (ACC/AHA). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors of CVD in obese and non-obese patients. The obese patients had significantly lower levels of AMH when compared to the non-obese ones (p = .002). Insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, and SBP were significantly higher in obese patients than non-obese ones (p < .001, p < .001 and p = .001, respectively). Age, SBP, and decreased AMH levels had significantly associated with risk factors of CVD in the obese group (p = .001, p = .002, and p = .049, respectively). Our study suggests that decreased AMH levels, increased age, and SBP are associated with CVD in obese patients. AMH may be used to evaluate CVD risk in advanced aged, obese patients.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Obesity is one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy. Obesity increases maternal complications such as preeclampsia, caesarean rate, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes after pregnancy; and neonatal complications including macrosomia, hypoglycaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, delivery trauma, shoulder dystocia, and adult-onset obesity, and diabetes. Obese patients have lower serum AMH levels.What the results of this study add? A significant relationship between AMH levels and CVD risk in obese pregnant women was observed.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Based on this finding, we concluded that decreased AMH levels are predictive for CVD in obese pregnant women.

Association between ovarian reserve and preeclampsia: a cohort study

Background

The risk of cardiovascular disease in women increases after menopause. It has been shown that women with lower pre-menopausal ovarian reserve may experience increased cardiovascular risk. We sought to determine whether there is any association between ovarian reserve, as assessed by Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and preeclampsia (PE).

Methods

Subjects of this study were selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), a population-based cohort with a 15-year follow-up (1998–2014). Out of 2412 women aged 20–50 years, there were 781 women who met eligibility criteria, including having comprehensive data on their reproductive assessment and ovarian reserve status, identified based on age-specific AMH levels according to the exponential–normal three-parameter model that was measured before pregnancy.

There were 80 and 701 participants in the preeclampsia and non-PE groups, respectively. The association between dichotomous outcome variable PE and age-specific AMH quartiles was evaluated using pooled logistic regression.

Results

PE was observed in 23 (11.1%), 12 (6.4%), 26 (13.3%) and 19 (10%) women in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles of pre-pregnancy age-specific AMH, respectively (P = 0.16). Median and inter-quartile range of serum AMH levels was 1.05 (0.36–2.2) mg/L in women who experienced PE compared with 0.85 (0.28–2.1) mg/L in women with normotensive pregnancies (P = 0.53). Based on the pooled logistic regression analysis, the effect of age-specific AMH quartiles on PE progression (adjusted for age, BMI, smoking status, and family history of hypertension) were not significant (OR_{1st vs 4th}: 1.5, P-value: 0.1, CI: (0.9, 2.4)).

Conclusions

Age-specific AMH may not be a suitable marker for prediction of PE. Further longitudinal studies, considering pre-conception measurement of AMH, are recommended for better interpretation of the association between ovarian reserve status and PE.

Is ovarian reserve associated with body mass index and obesity in reproductive aged women? A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The associations of body mass index (BMI) and obesity with ovarian reserve are controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the associations in reproductive-aged women.

METHODS

PubMed and Scopus were searched up to December, 2016. Original studies on the association of BMI with ovarian reserve markers, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin β, and antral follicle count (AFC), either according to BMI categories or a continuous variable, were selected. Analyses were stratified into three groups based on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and fertility status of women.

RESULTS

Of 4,055 records identified, 45 studies were eligible for inclusion. Comparing the obese with nonobese, the pooled mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were -1.08 (95% CIs -1.52, -0.63) ng/mL for AMH, -0.22 (95% CIs -0.39, -0.06) mIU/mL for FSH, -0.09 (95% CIs -0.60, 0.42) for AFC, and -21.06 (95% CIs -41.18, -0.85) pg/mL for inhibin β in overall populations. The MDs were significant for AMH in fertile non-PCOS and PCOS women, and for FSH only in PCOS women. Fisher's Z showed significant correlations of BMI with AMH in the overall populations (-0.15 [95% CIs -0.20, -0.11]) and in all subgroups, and with FSH in the fertile non-PCOS women (-0.16 [95% CIs -0.28, -0.04]).

CONCLUSION

Ovarian reserve markers of AMH and FSH are significantly lower in obese than in nonobese women, and BMI is negatively correlated with AMH in all study populations, and with FSH in fertile non-PCOS subgroups. PCOS and fertility status do not appear to affect the associations.

Hypothyroidism affects lipid and glycogen content and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ expression in the ovary of the rabbit

Dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia are associated with ovarian failure and both have been related to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism promotes anovulation and ovarian cysts in women and reduces the size of follicles and the expression of aromatase in the ovary of rabbits. Considering that ovarian steroidogenesis and ovulation depend on lipid metabolism and signalling, the aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of hypothyroidism on the lipid content and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ in the ovary. Ovaries from female rabbits belonging to the control (n=7) and hypothyroid (n=7) groups were processed to measure total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG) and glycogen content, as well as to determine the presence of granules containing oxidized lipids (oxysterols and lipofuscin) and the relative expression of perilipin A (PLIN-A) and PPARδ. Hypothyroidism increased TC and glycogen content, but reduced TAG content in the ovary. This was accompanied by a reduction in the expression of PLIN-A in total and cytosolic extracts, changes in the presence of granules containing oxidative lipids and low PPARδ expression. The results of the present study suggest that hypothyroidism modifies the content and signalling of lipids in the ovary, possibly affecting follicle maturation. These results could improve our understanding of the association between hypothyroidism and infertility in females.

Exploring the Ovarian Reserve Within Health Parameters: A Latent Class Analysis

The process of ovarian aging is influenced by a complex and poorly understood interplay of endocrine, metabolic, and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of using latent class analysis to identify subgroups based on cardiometabolic, psychological, and reproductive parameters of health and to describe patterns of anti-Müllerian hormone levels, a biomarker of the ovarian reserve, within these subgroups. Sixty-nine lean (body mass index [BMI] ⩽ 25 kg/m2) and severely obese (BMI ⩾ 40 kg/m2) postpartum women in Edinburgh, Scotland, were included in this exploratory study. The best fitting model included three classes: Class 1, n = 23 (33.5%); Class 2, n = 30 (42.2%); Class 3, n = 16 (24.3%). Postpartum women with lower ovarian reserve had less favorable cardiometabolic and psychological profiles. Examining the ovarian reserve within distinct subgroups based on parameters of health that affect ovarian aging may facilitate risk stratification in the context of ovarian aging.

Relationship between serum anti-Mullerian hormone with vitamin D and metabolic syndrome risk factors in late reproductive-age women

The relationship between serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) with vitamin D (25OH-D) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk was evaluated in healthy, late reproductive-age (35-49 years) women with regular menstrual cycles. Among the 291 participants (mean age = 42.5 years), most (76.6%, n = 223) were serum vitamin D insufficient (<20 ng/ml). Mean serum levels of AMH and vitamin D were 2.04 ng/mL and 15.9 ng/mL, respectively. There was no correlation between AMH and 25OH-D after adjustment for age (r = -0.093, p = 0.113). Subjects with higher MetS score, higher waist circumference, and higher diastolic blood pressure had significantly higher serum AMH levels when adjusted for age, but the association attenuated when BMI was included. There was no significant correlation between MetS risk components with serum level of AMH or vitamin D. In conclusion, there was no association between AMH with serum 25OH-D or MetS risk factors in this population.

Premature ovarian aging in BRCA carriers: a prototype of systemic precocious aging?

Purpose

Though former evidence implies a correlation of breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation with reduced ovarian reserve, the data is yet inconsistent. Our aim was to investigate biomarkers of ovarian aging in a cohort of young healthy carriers of the BRCA mutation. We hypothesized that the role played by BRCA genes in aging pathways is not exclusive to the ovary.

Experimental Design

Healthy female BRCA carriers, 40 years or younger and healthy male BRCA carriers, 50 years or younger, were enrolled in the study. Serum anti-mullerian Hormone (AMH), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), Klotho and IL-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ovarian AMH and protein kinase B (AKT) mRNA from BRCA carriers who underwent prophylactic oophorectomy and from age-matched, healthy, non-carriers who underwent partial oophorectomy due to benign conditions were analyzed by qPCR.

Results

Thirty-three female (median age 35y) and 20 male (44y) BRCA carriers were enrolled into the study and matched to control non-carriers (34y and 43y, respectively). Serum AMH level was significantly lower in BRCA female carriers than in both non-carrier controls and age-matched nomograms. The levels of ovarian AMH and AKT mRNA were significantly lower in carriers than in controls. The systemic aging cytokines FGF-23, klotho and IL-1 displayed a differential expression in carriers of both genders. FGF-23 level was higher in carriers (P=0.06).

Conclusions

Our results suggest a link between BRCA mutation, accelerated ovarian aging and systemic aging-related pathophysiology.

Anti-Müllerian hormone and its relationships with subclinical cardiovascular disease and renal disease in a longitudinal cohort study of women with type 1 diabetes

Background

Reproductive age may be a risk factor for vascular disease. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by viable ovarian follicles and reflects reproductive age. We examined whether AMH concentrations were associated with markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and kidney disease among women with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study. Participants included women with type 1 diabetes and ≥1 AMH measurement (n = 390). In multivariable regression models which adjusted for repeated measures, we examined the associations between AMH with CVD risk factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albumin excretion ratio. We also examined whether initial AMH concentrations were associated with the presence of any coronary artery calcification (CAC) or carotid intima media thickness (cIMT).

Results

After adjustment for age, AMH was not associated with waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, or renal function. Higher initial AMH concentrations had borderline but non-significant associations with the presence of CAC after adjustment for age (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00, 1.16) which were minimally altered by addition of other CVD risk factors, although women in the 3rd quartile of AMH had lower odds of CAC than women in the lowest quartile (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17, 0.94). After adjustment for age, higher AMH was associated with statistically significant but only slightly higher cIMT (0.005 mm, p = 0.0087) which was minimally altered by addition of other CVD risk factors.

Conclusions

Among midlife women with type 1 diabetes, AMH has slight but significant associations with subclinical measures of atherosclerosis. Future studies should examine whether these associations are clinically significant.

Trial registration

NCT00360815 and NCT00360893 Study Start Date April 1994.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels in Chinese Women Younger Than 30 Years and 30 Years or Older and Correlated Biochemical Indices

Importance

Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is considered an important marker of ovarian reserve; however, the exact function of AMH has yet to be determined.

Objective

Our purpose was to investigate factors correlated with AMH levels in Chinese women.

Evidence Acquisition

Healthy women were divided into 2 groups: aged younger than 30 years and 30 years or older. Anti-müllerian hormone levels and biochemical indices were compared between the groups.

Results

Eighty women younger than 30 and 29 women 30 years or older were included. The mean AMH level in women younger than 30 years was 8.2 ± 4.4 ng/mL (range, 0.1-17.2 ng/mL), and in those 30 years or older was 5.2 ± 4.3 ng/mL (range, 0.1-13.3 ng/mL). Half of women younger than 30 years had an AMH level above a median of 8.0 ng/mL (interquartile range, 4.9-11.2 ng/mL), whereas the median in those 30 years or older was 4.6 ng/mL (interquartile range, 1.3-8.5 ng/mL). In women younger than 30 years, calcium was positively correlated (P = 0.014) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was negatively correlated with AMH (P < 0.001). No correlations of calcium and SHBG with AMH were found in women 30 years or older, but a positive correlation between triglycerides and testosterone and AMH was noted (P = 0.020 and P = 0.007, respectively).

Conclusions and Relevance

Anti-müllerian hormone levels are positively or negatively correlated with testosterone, calcium, SHBG, and triglycerides in Chinese women.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Trajectories Are Associated With Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Results From the Doetinchem Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Earlier age at menopause is widely considered to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain undetermined. Indications suggest that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), an ovarian reserve marker, plays a physiological role outside of the reproductive system. Therefore, we investigated whether longitudinal AMH decline trajectories are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurrence.

METHODS

This study included 3108 female participants between 20 and 60 years of age at baseline of the population-based Doetinchem Cohort. Participants completed ≥1 of 5 consecutive quinquennial visits between 1987 and 2010, resulting in a total follow-up time of 20 years. AMH was measured in 8507 stored plasma samples. Information on total CVD, stroke, and coronary heart disease was obtained through a hospital discharge registry linkage. The association of AMH trajectories with CVD was quantified with joint modeling, with adjustment for age, smoking, oral contraceptive use, body mass index, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone therapy use, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels.

RESULTS

By the end of follow-up, 8.2% of the women had suffered from CVD, 4.9% had suffered from coronary heart disease, and 2.6% had experienced a stroke. After adjustment, each ng/mL lower _logAMH level was associated with a 21% higher risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.36) and a 26% higher risk of coronary heart disease (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.46). Each additional ng/mL/year decrease of _logAMH was associated with a significantly higher risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.87) and coronary heart disease (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.12). No association between AMH and stroke was found.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that AMH trajectories in women are independently associated with CVD risk. Therefore, we postulate that the decline of circulating AMH levels may be part of the pathophysiology of the increased cardiovascular risk of earlier menopause. Confirmation of this association and elucidation of its underlying mechanisms are needed to place these results in a clinical perspective.

Menstrual Cycle Irregularity and Metabolic Disorders: A Population-Based Prospective Study

The regularity of menstrual cycles is considered an indicator of women's reproductive health. Previous studies with a cross-sectional design have documented the relationship between menstrual cycle irregularities, insulin-resistance and the future risks for metabolic disorders. Limited data documented by prospective studies can lead to premature conclusions regarding the relationship between menstrual cycle irregularities and other conditions influencing women's health. The present study therefore, using a prospective design aimed to assess the risk of metabolic disorders in women with a history of irregular menstrual cycles, was based on the data gathered from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose study (TLGS) an ongoing prospective cohort study initiated in 1999. Participants of the current study were 2128 women, aged between 18-49 years, followed for 15 years. Based on their menstrual cycles, the women were divided into two groups: (i) women with regular menstrual cycles (n = 1749), and (ii) those with irregular menstrual cycles (n = 379). The proportional COX regression model was used to compare hazard ratios (HRs) between the groups for the proposed events, including diabetes mellitus (DM), pre-diabetes (pre-DM), hypertension (HTN), pre-hypertension (pre-HTN) and dyslipidemia. It was found that during a 15-year follow up, there were 123 cases of DM, 456 cases of pre-DM, 290 cases of HTN, 481 cases of pre-HTN, and 402 cases of dyslipidemia. Compared to those with regular cycles, women with irregular menstrual cycles were found to have an increased risk for DM2 (age adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs), 2.01; 95% confidence intervals (CI:1.59-3.50), the increased risk for DM, associated with irregular cycles remained significant after the adjustment for Body Mass Index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), family history of diabetes, and parity (HRS, 1.73; 95% CI: 1.14-2.64). There was no significant difference in the increased risk for pre-DM between the groups (age adjusted HRs, 1.33, 95% CI: 1.05-1.69). However, after the adjustment of BMI, FBS and family history of pre-DM, compared to those with regular menstrual cycles, irregular menstrual cycles showed an increased risk for pre-DM (HRs, 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05-1.69). No statistically significant difference was found in the increasing risk for other proposed events between the groups demonstrating that menstrual cycle irregularities could be considered a marker of metabolic disorders and a predisposing factor of the increased risk for diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes in women with irregular menstrual cycles.

Endogenous androgen exposures and ischemic heart disease, a separate sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Evolutionary biology suggests growth and reproduction trade-off against longevity. Correspondingly estrogen supplementation failed to increase lifespan. Testosterone supplementation is widely used by older men, although regulators have warned of its cardiovascular risk. No large trial of testosterone exists. We examined how genetic determinants of up-regulation (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) and down-regulation (anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS)) of mainly the male reproductive system are associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

METHODS

Separate sample instrumental variable analysis with genetic instruments, i.e., Mendelian randomization, was used to obtain unconfounded estimates using large case-control studies of coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction (CAD/MI) with extensive genotyping, i.e., CARDIoGRAMplusC4D (64,374 CAD/MI cases, 130,681controls), or CARDIoGRAMplusC4D 1000 Genomes (60,801 cases, 123,504 controls).

RESULTS

Genetically predicted FSH was positively associated with CAD/MI (odds ratio (OR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03 to 1.13 per mIU/mL FSH). Genetically predicted AMH and TDS were inversely associated with CAD/MI (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.998 per ng/mL log AMH and OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.98 per log OR higher risk of TDS).

CONCLUSIONS

As expected from evolutionary biology, genetically predicted FSH, related to higher androgens in men and women, was positively associated with IHD, while genetically predicted AMH and TDS, related to lower androgens in men, were inversely associated with IHD. Androgens might be a modifiable causal factor underlying men's greater vulnerability to IHD, with corresponding implications for use of testosterone supplementation as well as for prevention and treatment of IHD.

The association of low ovarian reserve with cardiovascular disease risk: a cross-sectional population-based study

STUDY QUESTION

Is there a relationship between serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in premenopausal women?

SUMMARY ANSWER

There are indications that premenopausal women with very low ovarian reserve may have an unfavorable CVD risk profile.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Age at menopause is frequently linked to CVD occurrence. AMH is produced by ovarian antral follicles and provides a measure of remaining ovarian reserve Literature on whether AMH is related to CVD risk is still scarce and heterogeneous.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Cross-sectional study in 2338 women (age range of 20-57 years) from the general population, participating in the Doetinchem Cohort Study between 1993 and 1997.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

CVD risk was compared between 2338 premenopausal women in different AMH level-categories, with adjustment for confounders. CVD risk was assessed through levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose, in addition to a summed score of CVD risk factors. Among other factors, analyses were corrected for smoking, oral contraceptive use and BMI.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The relationship of serum AMH levels with CVD risk factor outcomes was nonlinear. Women with AMH levels <0.16 µg/l had 0.11 (95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.01; 0.21) more metabolic risk factors compared with women with AMH levels ≥0.16 µg/l. There was no association of individual risk factor levels with AMH levels, besides a tendency towards lower total cholesterol levels of 0.11 mmol/l (95% CI -0.23; 0.01) in women with AMH levels <0.002 µg/l compared with women with AMH levels ≥0.16 µg/l. Although not statistically significant, these effect sizes were larger in women below 40 years of age.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Causality and temporality of the studied association cannot be addressed here. Moreover, the clinical and statistical significance of the results of this exploratory study should be interpreted with caution due to the absence of adjustment for multiple statistical testing.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This population-based study supports previous findings that premenopausal women with very low AMH levels may have an increased CVD risk. It lays the groundwork for future research to focus on this group of women. Longitudinal studies with more sensitive AMH assays may furthermore help better understand the implications of these results.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST

No financial support was received for this research or manuscript. The Doetinchem Cohort Study is conducted and funded by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment F.J.M.B. has received fees and grant support from Merck Serono, Gedeon Richter, Ferring BV and Roche.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Low antimullerian hormone levels may be associated with cardiovascular risk markers in women with diminished ovarian reserve

There is growing evidence that diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) may be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the study was to investigate whether there was any relationship between antimullerian hormone (AMH) and CVD risk markers in the study. Ninety women with DOR and 90 women with normal ovarian reserve (NOR) attending the infertility unit at XXXX, were enrolled in the study. CVD risk markers such as insulin resistance [defined by the homeostasis model assessment ratio (HOMA-IR)], C-reactive protein (CRP), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) were assessed. HOMA-IR, CRP, TG, LDL levels were higher and HDL and AMH were lower among patients with DOR compared with controls (p < 0.05, for all). There were positive associations between low AMH and HOMA-IR, CRP, TG, LDL levels and a negative correlation with HDL (p < 0.05, for all). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR, CRP, TG and HDL were independent variables that were associated with low AMH. There was a close relationship between low AMH and CVD risk markers in the study. Further studies with larger groups are needed to investigate the nature of this link in these patients.

Antimüllerian hormone: correlation with age and androgenic and metabolic factors in women from birth to postmenopause

OBJECTIVE

To study the age-specific distribution of antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and describe the association of AMH with androgenic and metabolic profiles at different ages.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 6,763 Chinese women from birth to menopause.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Anthropometric parameters (height, weight, and blood pressure), and levels of AMH and testosterone, glucose metabolism, and lipid profiles.

RESULT(S)

According to the level of AMH, four age phases were established: childhood (0-10 years), adolescence (11-18 years), reproductive age (19-50 years), and advanced age (≥51 years). During childhood and adolescence, AMH levels increased, reaching a peak at 18 years. A decline occurred thereafter during the reproductive-age period until the age of 50 years, and it remained at a low level above 0 onward. We found that AMH was negatively correlated with testosterone in childhood (r = -0.25), but was positively correlated with testosterone and the free androgen index in adolescence (r = 0.30; r = 0.26, respectively) as well as during the reproductive phases (r = 0.28; r = 0.31, respectively). No correlation was observed between AMH and body mass index, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, the homeostasis model assessment, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, or high-density lipoprotein at any phase.

CONCLUSION(S)

From birth to 18 years, AMH increases, then it declines thereafter, indicating changes of ovarian maintenance. A positive relationship between androgenic profiles and AMH during adolescence and reproductive years implies a synchronism between androgens and ovarian reserve.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone as a marker of ovarian reserve in relation to cardio-metabolic health: a narrative review

The final hallmark of diminishing ovarian reserve is menopause, a state known to be inextricably linked to the deterioration of female cardiovascular health. The menopausal transition is associated with an increased risk of future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, irrespective of chronological age. The aim of this narrative review is to identify studies investigating the association between Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), a marker of ovarian reserve status, and factors of cardio-metabolic risk. Both for regularly cycling women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), current reports are conflicting and heterogeneous, with some indicating presence and others absence of a correlation between AMH and cardio-metabolic risk factors. The occurrence of hypertensive complications in pregnancy, known to increase the risk of later cardiovascular sequelae, is associated with reduced AMH levels in various study populations. Further research remains a prerequisite in order to further elucidate a possible common mechanism for ovarian and cardiovascular decline. More knowledge of the temporal or causal association between ovarian and cardiovascular decline may enable timely identification of women with increased risk of cardiovascular disease or early onset ovarian aging. Following this, AMH may in the future play a role beyond the scope of female reproduction.