title: Effect of metformin administration on plasma advanced glycation end product levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Metformin therapy in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) improves metabolic and hormonal profiles. Its therapeutic effect on cardiovascular risk factors is under investigation. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), well-known atherogenic molecules, were recently found to be elevated in plasma of women with PCOS. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of metformin treatment in plasma AGE levels of women with PCOS. This was a descriptive clinical trial. The study involved 22 patients with PCOS (age, 25.09 +/- 1.05 years; body mass index [BMI], 28.44 +/- 1.51 kg/m(2)) and 22 healthy women (age, 26.50 +/- 0.85 years; BMI, 25.62 +/- 1.30 kg/m(2)). Measurements of plasma AGE levels (U/mL) were performed, and the metabolic and hormonal profiles were determined in all subjects. All women with PCOS received a dose of 1700 mg metformin daily for 6 months. AGEs levels were reduced after metformin administration in 22 women with PCOS (9.98 +/- 0.13 [before metformin] vs 9.86 +/- 0.11 [after metformin], P = .05). In a subgroup analysis, of 16 women with PCOS and normal glucose tolerance, the drop of AGE levels was potentiated (9.98 +/- 0.19 [before] vs 9.81 +/- 0.15 [after], P = .02). Body mass index as well as the other parameters studied remained unchanged after metformin therapy apart from a drop of testosterone levels (P = .01) and free androgen index (P = .009). In conclusion, after metformin therapy, the atherogenic AGE molecules were reduced in the serum of women with PCOS . The clinical relevance of this finding in PCOS, a high-risk group for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, remains to be seen. Future studies are required to confirm the need of therapeutic intervention for short-term abnormalities and for prevention of long-term sequelae characterizing this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, University of Athens Medical School, 17562 Athens, Greece. akandara@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diamanti-Kandarakis
authors.forename: Krystallenia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alexandraki
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piperi
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aessopos
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paterakis
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katsikis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D008687:Metformin; D002784:Cholesterol