A new article published in Peptides discussed that gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) – an incretin hormone released by enteroendocrine K-cells in response to feeding, stimulates insulin release to regulate blood glucose and nutrient homeostasis. More recently GIP has been ascribed a positive role in lipid metabolism, bone strength, cardiovascular function and cognition. The authors informed about an emerging role of GIP and related gut hormones in fertility, and especially, for patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It was stated that key evidence relates restoration of fertility in women with gross obesity and PCOS following bariatric surgery – this could be due to indirect effects mediated by alleviation of insulin resistance, along with probable direct effects of surgically induced changes of GIP, GLP-1 and related peptide hormones on ovaries and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

It was inferred that further studies are required to determine inter-relationships between the hormones and cellular mechanisms involved. Yet, these observations suggest that GIP and other gut may provide a novel therapeutic approach for PCOS and other reproductive disorders.

Source: Peptides. 2020 Jan 11:170233. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.170233.