Biochemical and body weight changes with metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term effects of metformin on biochemical variables and body weight in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHOD: Fifteen obese PCOS patients that attended the university clinic were included to this prospective study. These patients used 1,500 mg of metformin daily for 12 months.

RESULT: We found a statistically different decrease in mean body mass index (t:4,369), (p:0.0002) at the end of the 12 months. In contrast to that there were no statistical differences in fasting serum insulin and testosterone levels. Metformin improved menstrual patterns (60% of cases) in obese PCOS patients.

CONCLUSION

Hyperinsulinemia and androgen excess in obese non-diabetic women with PCOS are not improved by the administration of metformin. Metformin treatment may have improved menstrual patterns by a mechanism independent of and unrelated to insulin sensitivity or circulating insulin concentrations.