title: Effects of simvastatin and metformin on polycystic ovary syndrome after six months of treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A randomized trial on women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared simvastatin, metformin, and a combination of these drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term effects of simvastatin and metformin on PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with PCOS (n = 139) were randomized to simvastatin (S), metformin (M), or simvastatin plus metformin (SM) groups. Evaluations were performed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at a university medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the change of serum total testosterone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven subjects completed the study. Total testosterone decreased significantly and comparably in all groups: by 25.6, 25.6, and 20.1% in the S, M, and SM groups, respectively. Both simvastatin and metformin improved menstrual cyclicity and decreased hirsutism, acne, ovarian volume, body mass index, C-reactive protein, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate declined significantly only in the S group. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly declined only in the S and SM groups. Ongoing reduction of ovarian volume, decreased hirsutism, acne and testosterone were observed between 0 and 3 months as well as between 3 and 6 months. Improvement of lipid profile, C-reactive protein, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 occurred only during the first 3 months of treatment, with little change thereafter. Treatments were well tolerated, and no significant adverse effects were encountered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment with simvastatin was superior to metformin. Improvement of ovarian hyperandrogenism continued throughout the duration of the study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Gynecological Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-535 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banaszewska
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pawelczyk
authors.forename: Robert Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Spaczynski
authors.forename: Antoni J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duleba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008687:Metformin; D019821:Simvastatin