Treatment with Metformin Can Improve Insulin Resistance and Lipid Profile in Non-Diabetic Iraqi Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are usually at increased risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance (IR), regardless of their body weight, and the development of type 2 diabetes in those women is not uncommon. Metformin is an oral hypoglycemic drug with a significant role in improving IR and lipid profile in diabetic persons without causing hypoglycemia. Objectives: To study the effectiveness of metformin in reducing body weight, IR, and lipid profile in non-diabetic PCOS women. Materials and Methods: Two hundred women with PCOS were included in the study. Serum was taken from them, and measurement of insulin level, fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipid profile were performed as a baseline. Metformin tabs of 500 mg twice daily were given for 3 months, and measurement of the previous parameters was also performed following treatment. The results were compared between pre- and post-treatment. Results: The study showed that body mass index was not changed following 3 months of metformin intake, while there was a significant reduction in FBS, serum level of insulin, HbA1c, and Homa-IR following treatment. Together and with the exception of a non-significant mild improvement in serum high-density lipoprotein level, serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein were improved with a significant reduction following metformin treatment. Conclusion: Regardless its ability to reduce body weight, metformin can be effectively used for lowering FBS, lipid profile, and improving IR in non-diabetic PCOS women and can be used as an effective intervention to improve the quality of life in women with PCOS.