Metformin 2,500 mg/day in the treatment of obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome and its effect on weight, hormones, and lipid profile.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of metformin at the dosage of 2,500 mg/day in the treatment of obese women with PCOS and also to evaluate its effect on weight, hormones, and lipid profile.


METHODS
This study was a 4-month open-label clinical trial. Sixty-nine PCOS patients aged 20-35 were recruited in the study. Testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), fasting insulin, dehydroepiandrostenedione-sulphate (DHEAS), FBS, LDH, HDL, TG, total cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio were measured before treatment and after 4 months of treatment.


RESULTS
Significant reductions in serum insulin, BMI, waist/hip ratio, and LDL were observed. In addition, a significant increase in SHBG was obtained. Over the 4 months of the trial, 12 patients faced nausea, six patients had bloating, five patients had diarrhea and two had headache; none of these symptoms were severe except for two cases that dropped out due to severe vomiting.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that 2,500 mg daily dose of metformin in obese patients with PCOS is effective in the reduction of BMI, waist hip/ratio, LDL, serum insulin and increases SHBG. In general this dose was relatively safe and well tolerated.
Aghahosseini
Marzieh
M
Infertility Ward, Dr. Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Aleyaseen
Ashraf
A
Safdarian
Leli
L
Moddaress-Hashemi
Shahab
S
Mofid
Behshad
B
Kashani
Ladan
L
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D006728:Hormones; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008687:Metformin