Document Detail


Thyroidal effect of metformin treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21521311     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Objective:  Metformin is widely used for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Growing evidence supports the beneficial effects of metformin also in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It was recently reported that metformin has a TSH-lowering effect in hypothyroid patients with diabetes being treated with metformin. Design:  Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on the thyroid hormone profile in patients with PCOS. Patients and measurements:  Thirty-three patients with PCOS were specifically selected for being either treated with levothyroxine for a previous diagnosis of hypothyroidism (n=7), untreated subclinically hypothyroid (n=2) or euthyroid without levothyroxine treatment (n=24) before the starting of metformin. The serum levels of TSH and FT(4) were measured before and after a 4-month period of metformin therapy. Results:  Thyroid function parameters did not change after starting metformin therapy in euthyroid patients with PCOS. In the 9 hypothyroid patients with PCOS, the basal median serum levels of TSH (3.2 mIU/L, range = 0.4-7.1 mIU/L) significantly (p<0.05) decreased after a 4-month course of metformin treatment (1.7 mIU/L, range = 0.5-5.2 mIU/L). No significant change in the serum levels of FT4 was observed in these patients. The TSH-lowering effect of metformin was not related to the administered dose of the drug, which was similar in euthyroid as compared with hypothyroid patients with PCOS (1406 ± 589 mg/day vs. 1322 ± 402 mg/day, respectively; NS). Conclusions:  These results indicate that metformin treatment has a TSH-lowering effect in hypothyroid patients with PCOS, both treated with L-thyroxine and untreated.
Authors:
Mario Rotondi; Carlo Cappelli; Flavia Magri; Roberta Botta; Rosa Dionisio; Carmelo Iacobello; Pasquale De Cata; Rossella Elena Nappi; Maurizio Castellano; Luca Chiovato
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-3-10
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical endocrinology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1365-2265     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-4-27     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0346653     Medline TA:  Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Affiliation:
Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri I.R.C.C.S., ISPESL Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Chair of Endocrinology, University of Pavia Research Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Morphological, Eidological and Clinical Sciences, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri I.R.C.C.S., University of Pavia Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Unit, University of Brescia III Laboratory, Spedali Civili, Brescia.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Efficacy of risedronate with cholecalciferol on 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and bone turnover in Korea...
Next Document:  The prevalence of low sex steroid hormone concentrations in men in the Third National Health and Nut...