Effects of Metformin on Hyperinsulinemia , Hyperandrogenism and Reproduction in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (original) (raw)

The effects of metformin on insulin resistance, clomiphene-induced ovulation and pregnancy rates in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2004

Objective(s): To evaluate the effects of metformin on insulin resistance, ovarian androgen production, and clomiphene-induced ovulation and pregnancy rates in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Study design: Twenty-one infertile women with PCOS were selected in this prospective randomized clinical study. Basal steroid and gonadotropin levels were measured, and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. The patients were divided randomly into group 1 (n¼11) and group 2 (n¼10). Group 1 patients were treated with 1700 mg per day of metformin for 3 months. The basal tests and OGTT were repeated after metformin therapy. Group 2 patients did not receive metformin. The patients in both groups received 100 mg of clomiphene citrate (CC) daily for 5 days until either a pregnancy occurred, or six CC cycles were reached. Metformin administration continued during CC therapy until the day of hCG in group 1. Serum progesterone (P) level !5 ng/ml was considered as confirmatory of ovulation. Ovulation and pregnancy rates after six cycles were determined. Results: Serum androgens and insulin response to OGTT decreased significantly after metformin therapy. Midluteal serum P level was significantly higher in cycles treated with metformin plus CC (P < 0:05). The ovulation (38 of 51 cycles, 74.4% versus 34 of 55 cycles, 61.8%) and pregnancy rates (5 of 11 women, 45.5% versus 3 of 10 women, 30%) were higher, but not significantly, in the metformin plus CC group than in the CC alone group. All the patients who conceived had insulin resistance in group 1 whereas non-insulin resistance in group 2. Conclusion(s): Metformin improves insulin resistance and reduces androgen levels. Metformin did not increase significantly the ovulation and pregnancy rates.

Therapeutic effects of metformin on insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome

European Journal of Endocrinology, 1998

Evidence suggests that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia are associated with ovarian hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularities in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Sixteen obese women with PCOS on a weight-maintaining diet were studied before and after 6 months of therapy with the insulin-sensitizing antidiabetic agent metformin at a dose of 1700 mg per day. Compared with baseline values, glucose utilization was markedly enhanced at 6 months using the two-step euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp to measure changes in insulin sensitivity (2.56 +/- 0.32 vs 4.68 +/- 0.49 mg/kg per min, P = 0.0001, when 40 mU insulin/m2 per min was infused, and 6.48 +/- 0.58 vs 9.84 +/- 0.72 mg/kg per min, P = 0.0002, when 400 mU insulin insulin/m2 per min was infused). The improvement in insulin action was accompanied by significant increases in the levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (24.5 +/- 7.2 vs 39.8 +/- 16.2 nmol/l, P = 0.003) and decreases in free testosterone (12.8 +/- 5.8 vs 9.0...

[Use of metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome]

Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a myriad of phenotypic and clinical features that may guide therapeutic options for metabolic protection and ovulation induction. The use of metformin may prove beneficial in a subset of the population of women with PCOS. Hyperinsulinemia, as demonstrated by elevated insulin levels on a 2-hour 75-g load glucose tolerance test, is an important parameter in deciding whether or not to initiate metformin therapy to women with PCOS with the hope of preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Cardiovascular risk factors including markers of subclinical inflammation, and dyslipidemia may also be improved by metformin therapy. For ovulation induction, metformin is not as effective as clomiphene citrate as first-line therapy for women with PCOS. There are no clear data to suggest that metformin reduces pregnancy loss or improves pregnancy outcome in PCOS, and it is currently recommended that metformin be discontinued with the first positive pregnancy test result, unless there are other medical indications (eg, type 2 DM). This review addresses practical management guidelines for the uses of metformin in women with PCOS.

Metformin Effects on Clinical Features, Endocrine and Metabolic Profiles, and Insulin Sensitivity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled 6-Month Trial, followed by Open, Long-Term Clinical Evaluation1

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2000

In the last few years some studies assessed the effects of attenuation of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, obtained by insulin sensitizing agents, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), suggesting potential scope for these drugs in treating the whole spectrum of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic abnormalities found in such subjects. However, the results of these studies, mostly uncontrolled and short-term, are still inconclusive, and there is no longterm follow-up. In the present study, 23 PCOS subjects [mean (Ϯ SE) body mass index 30.0 Ϯ 1.1 kg/m 2 ] were randomly assigned to doubleblind treatment with metformin (500 mg tid) or placebo for 6 months, while maintaining their usual eating habits. Before and after treatment, menstrual history, endocrine and metabolic profiles, serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone response to GnRH-agonist testing, and insulin sensitivity measured by the glucose clamp technique were assessed. Eighteen of these women, as well as 14 additional PCOS patients, were subsequently given metformin in an open trial for 11.0 Ϯ 1.3 months (range 4-26), to assess long-term effects of treatment and baseline predictors of metformin efficacy on reproductive abnormalities. After metformin treatment, mean frequency of menstruation improved (P ϭ 0.002), due to striking amelioration of menstrual abnormalities in about 50% of subjects. Women given metformin showed reduced plasma insulin (at fasting: P ϭ 0.057; during

Effect of metformin therapy on 2-h post-glucose insulin levels in patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, 2010

AIMS: To evaluate if 2-h post glucose insulin level is an effective tool to monitor insulin resistance in response to metformin therapy, in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This prospective observational study was carried out in a tertiary care infertility clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 women with PCOS were categorized as having insulin resistance if fasting or 2-h post glucose insulin levels were >25 or >41µU/ml respectively. Post glucose insulin was compared before and after six months of metformin therapy along with other clinical, hormonal and metabolic parameters by using McNemar and the Student's t-test. RESULTS: Fasting insulin was elevated in 4 (10%) and post-load insulin in 34 (85%) patients; after metformin therapy respective values were 2 (5%) and 16 (40%). Metformin therapy reduced post glucose insulin levels (P<0.001), improved the regularity of periods (P<0.001) and resulted in reduction of LH levels (P<0.001), total testosterone (P<0.001) and mean Body mass index (BMI) (P=0.047). Metformin therapy did not alter waist-hip ratio and fasting insulin levels. CONCLUSION: 2-h post glucose insulin level is an effective tool to monitor insulin resistance in PCOS patients and improves significantly after metformin therapy, similar to improvements observed in clinical, hormonal and metabolic parameters.

Effects of metformin plus myo-inositol compared to metformin alone as pre-treatment of ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance

International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting reproductive-age women. Insulin resistance (IR) is a common disorder, which may impair female fertility by causing ovulatory dysfunction. Lifestyle modification and insulin sensitizers are commonly used in the management of IR. This study aimed to compare the effects of metformin plus myo-inositol versus metformin alone as pre-treatment in ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance.Methods: This prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted in the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, from July 2020 to June 2021. A total of 52 insulin-resistant infertile PCOS women were included in this study, who were allocated into two groups by using odd-even numbers and given two different treatments.Results: Mature follicles and mid-luteal serum progesterone levels were significantly higher in metf...

Effect of Metformin on Hormonal and Biochemical Profile in PCOS Before and After Therapy

Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 2010

Insulin resistance and the resultant hyperinsulinemia exacerbate the reproductive abnormalities of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome by increasing ovarian androgen productions and decreasing serum sex hormone binding globulin. The present study was conducted to estimate serum insulin and testosterone level in 44 PCOS cases and 32 control patients. Simultaneously the role of metformin (an insulin sensitizing agent) in modulating insulin resistance and serum androgen level was also analyzed. A significant rise in serum insulin and testosterone (P < 0.001) was observed in cases in comparison to control. Fasting Plasma Glucose to insulin ratio, a marker of insulin resistance revealed a significant fall in PCOS group. Follow up of cases with metformin for 3 months revealed a significant fall in serum insulin (P < 0.05) with improvement in insulin resistance along with a nonsignificant fall in testosterone level. Serum insulin registered a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with serum testosterone revealing its etiological association. Thus administration of drugs ameliorating insulin levels is expected to provide new therapeutic modality for PCOS.

Should patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome be treated with metformin? Proven and potential benefits

2002

The recognition of insulin resistance as a principal factor in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has led to the use of insulin-lowering agents, also called 'insulin-sensitizing drugs', for its treatment. The most extensively studied insulin-lowering agent in the treatment of PCOS is metformin: an oral antihyperglycaemic agent used initially in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metformin is effective in the treatment of PCOSrelated anovulation and infertility. Moreover, preliminary evidence indicates that metformin may also be effective in decreasing the risk of early spontaneous miscarriage in women with PCOS. Metformin also appears to induce cardioprotective effects on serum lipids as well as plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and may decrease the risk of development of type 2 diabetes. The highly promising therapeutic profile of metformin is related to the role of this agent in controlling an important aetiologic factor in the pathogenesis of PCOS: hyperinsulinaemia.