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N-acetylcysteine for polycystic ovary
syndrome.
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| Article Type: | Brief article |
| Subject: |
Stein-Leventhal syndrome
(Drug therapy) Stein-Leventhal syndrome (Patient outcomes) Metformin (Dosage and administration) Metformin (Patient outcomes) |
| Author: | Gaby, Alan R. |
| Pub Date: | 08/01/2012 |
| Publication: | Name: Townsend Letter Publisher: The Townsend Letter Group Audience: General; Professional Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 The Townsend Letter Group ISSN: 1940-5464 |
| Issue: | Date: August-Sept, 2012 Source Issue: 349-350 |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: United States Geographic Code: 1USA United States |
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| Accession Number: | 303012892 |
| Full Text: |
One hundred women with polycystic ovary syndrome (mean age, 23
years; mean body mass index [BMI], 23.5 kg/[m.sub.2]), who had hirsutism
and irregular menses, were randomly assigned to receive conventional
treatment with metformin (500 mg 3 times per day) or N-acetylcysteine
(NAC; 600 mg 3 times per day) for 24 weeks. In both groups there was a
small but statistically significant decrease in BMI. Significant
improvements were seen in both groups in hirsutism score, insulin
resistance (as determined by homeostasis model assessment), and serum
testosterone (a decrease). The proportion of patients with regular
menses increased in the metformin group from 17% at baseline to 47%, and
increased in the NAC group from 29% at baseline to 53[degrees]k. Both
treatments had similar efficacy for all of these parameters. NAC
significantly decreased both total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol
levels, whereas metformin significantly decreased only total
cholesterol. Comment: This study suggests that that metformin and NAC have comparable effects on hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and menstrual irregularity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The mechanism of action of NAC is not known. Oner C, Muderris II. Clinical, endocrine and metabolic effects of metformin vs N-acetyl-cysteine in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Eur / Obstet Gynecol Roprod Biol. 2011;159:127-131 by Alan R. Gaby, MD drgaby@earthlink.net |
| Gale Copyright: | Copyright 2012 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. |