title: Advanced onset of puberty after metformin therapy in swine with thrifty genotype.
abstract: The prevention and treatment of obesity in children is based on adequate nutrition and exercise plus antihyperglycaemic drugs. Currently, the incidence of childhood obesity is aggravated in ethnicities with thrifty genotype, but there is no available information on the effects of metformin therapy. The relative effects of lifestyle and metformin on patterns of growth, fattening, metabolic status and attainment of puberty were assessed in females of an obese swine model (Iberian gilts), allocated to three experimental groups (group A, obesogenic diet and scarce exercise; group DE, adequate diet and opportunity for exercise; and group DEM, adequate diet and opportunity for exercise plus metformin). Group A evidenced high weight, corpulence and adiposity, high plasma triglycerides and impairments of glucose regulation predisposing to insulin resistance. These features were favourably modulated by adequate lifestyle (group DE), and these effects were strengthened by metformin treatment (group DEM), which induced an improvement in body development by favouring muscle deposition. However, contrary to expectations, metformin advanced the onset of puberty. Metformin treatments would have positive effects on growth patterns, adiposity and metabolic features of young females from ethnicities with thrifty genotype or developing leptin resistance, but a negative effect by advancing the attainment of puberty. This study provides a warning regarding the use of metformin, without further studies, in girls from these ethnicities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n., 28040, Madrid, Spain astiz.susana@inia.es.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n., 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Bulnes
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Pediatría, Atención Primaria, Centro de Salud Ciudad San Pablo, Avenida de Madrid, 13 Coslada, 28022, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Astiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n., 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Perez-Solana
authors.affiliation: Departamento Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia-Real
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D008687:Metformin