Metformin decreases circulating acylation-stimulating protein levels in polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
There are no studies that examine the circulating acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The present study was designed to determine the ASP levels in PCOS and to evaluate the effect of metformin on plasma fasting ASP concentrations.


METHODS
Twenty women with PCOS and 20 healthy controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. We determined ASP and other biochemical parameters before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Baseline levels of plasma ASP, complement 3 (C3), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), fasting insulin, triglycerides (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were significantly higher in patients than in controls. After 3 months of metformin treatment, BMI, WHR, ASP, C3, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, TG, VLDL-C and free testosterone decreased significantly, whereas apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The major novel information of the present study is that ASP and C3 values are markedly increased in non-obese patients with PCOS, with a decrease evidenced with metformin treatment.
Oktenli
Cagatay
C
Division of Internal Medicine, Gata Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Kadikoy Istanbul, Turkey. coktenli@yahoo.com
Ozgurtas
Taner
T
Dede
Murat
M
Sanisoglu
Yavuz S
YS
Yenen
Mufit C
MC
Yesilova
Zeki
Z
Kenar
Levent
L
Kurt
Yasemin G
YG
Baser
Iskender
I
Smith
Jessica
J
Cianflone
Katherine
K
D000215:Acylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C044541:complement C3a, des-Arg-(77)-; D015926:Complement C3a; D008687:Metformin