title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor B is elevated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and can be decreased with metformin treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine serum vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) levels in polycystic ovary syndrome, their association with insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction, and the effect of metformin on serum VEGF-B levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 103 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 96 age-matched healthy controls. Serum VEGF-B levels were determined in all participants, and 44 polycystic ovary syndrome patients randomly received metformin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured VEGF-B levels in healthy controls and women with polycystic ovary syndrome before and after metformin treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with polycystic ovary syndrome had higher serum VEGF-B levels, which decreased with metformin treatment. In the lean and overweight/obese groups, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome had higher plasma VEGF-B levels than did healthy controls (P < 0·05). VEGF-B levels were correlated with body mass index, body fat percentage, M values, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and β-cell function indices. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that VEGF-B level was associated with M values after adjusting for age, body mass index, serum sex hormones and serum lipids in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum VEGF-B is significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and is closely and positively related to insulin resistance. Metformin treatment reduces VEGF-B levels and ameliorates insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Feifei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Gangyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Zhanyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yijia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Dongfang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D008687:Metformin