Abstract | OBJECTIVE: DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Sixteen women with PCOS and hirsutism were enrolled into a 14 month (two 6 month phases with a 2 month washout) double-blind placebo-controlled cross over study. MEASUREMENTS:
Hirsutism was assessed using the Ferriman and Gallwey (F-G) score, patient self-assessment and growth velocity. Weight, height and waist-hip ratio were recorded. Gonadotrophins, androgens, plasma glucose and lipids were also measured. RESULTS: Ten women completed the full 14 month study. There was a significant improvement in hirsutism at the end of the metformin phase compared with placebo: F-G score 15.8+/-1.4 vs 17.5+/-1.2 (P=0.025) and patient self-assessment 2.4+/-0.1 vs 3.3+/-0.3 (P=0.014). Growth velocity, in millimetres per day at the end of each phase also improved (0.67+/-0.17 vs 0.77+/-0.11; P=0.03). There was a non-significant improvement in both sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and free androgen index (FAI), although there was a significant difference between baseline and metformin treatment for SHBG (P=0.023) and FAI (P=0.036). Metformin treatment also reduced weight significantly (91.5+/-7.6 vs 94.0+/-9.8 kg; P=0.009) and led to a significant improvement in cycle frequency (0.53+/-0.12 vs 0.35+/-0.08 cycles per month; P=0.008). CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that metformin treatment in a group of women with PCOS results in a clinically and statistically significant improvement in hair growth compared with placebo.
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Authors | Christopher J G Kelly, Derek Gordon |
Journal | European journal of endocrinology
(Eur J Endocrinol)
Vol. 147
Issue 2
Pg. 217-21
(Aug 2002)
ISSN: 0804-4643 [Print] England |
PMID | 12153743
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Hypoglycemic Agents
- Placebos
- Metformin
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Topics |
- Body Constitution
- Body Height
- Body Weight
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Hair
(growth & development)
- Hirsutism
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Humans
- Hypoglycemic Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Menstrual Cycle
- Metformin
(therapeutic use)
- Placebos
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(complications)
- Reproducibility of Results
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