Metformin-diet ameliorates coronary heart disease risk factors and facilitates resumption of regular menses in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
In 20 adolescents age < or = 17 (16 +/- 1 yr) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), we assessed efficacy and safety of metformin-diet for 1 year in treatment of endocrinopathy and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors.


METHODS
Calories were targeted to 1,500-1,800/ day if body mass index (BMI) was < 25 or to 1,200-1,500/day if BMI was > or = 25, along with 2,550 mg metformin.


RESULTS
Median weight fell from 85.5 to 78.4 kg (p = 0.004), waist circumference from 91 to 84 cm (p = 0.017), triglyceride from 108 to 71 mg/dl (p = 0.008), insulin from 20.5 to 15 microU/ml (p = 0.018), HOMA-IR from 2.0 to 1.5 (p = 0.026), and testosterone from 45.5 to 31.5 ng/dl (p = 0.03). The percentage of cycles with normal menses rose from a pre-treatment median of 8% to 100%, p < 0.0001.


CONCLUSIONS
In adolescents (< or = age 17 yr) with PCOS, metformin-diet safely ameliorates CHD risk factors and endocrinopathy while facilitating resumption of regular menses.
Glueck
Charles J
CJ
Jewish Hospital, Cholesterol Center, ABC Building, 3200 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. glueckch@healthall.com
Goldenberg
Naila
N
Wang
Ping
P
D000293:Adolescent; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D013739:Testosterone; D008687:Metformin