Abstract | OBJECTIVE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients affected by PCOS, without additional metabolic or cardiovascular diseases, were enrolled in a prospective nonrandomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study. They were grouped into two treatment arms that were matched for age and BMI. Patients were treated with a 6-month course of metformin (1,700 mg daily) plus folic acid (400 microg daily; experimental group, n = 25) or placebo (control group, n = 25). Complete hormonal and metabolic patterns, serum Hcy, folate, vitamin B12, endothelin-1 levels, brachial artery diameter at the baseline (BAD-B) and after reactive hyperemia (BAD-RH), flow-mediated dilation, and intima-media thickness in both common carotid arteries were evaluated. RESULTS:
After treatment, a significant increase in serum Hcy levels was observed in the control group compared with the baseline values and the experimental group. A beneficial effect was observed in the concentrations of BAD-B, BAD-RH, flow-mediated dilation, intima-media thickness, and serum endothelin-1 in both groups. However, the results were improved more significantly in the experimental group than in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS:
Metformin exerts a slight but significant deleterious effect on serum Hcy levels in patients with PCOS, and supplementation with folate is useful to increase the beneficial effect of metformin on the vascular endothelium.
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Authors | Stefano Palomba, Angela Falbo, Francesco Giallauria, Tiziana Russo, Achille Tolino, Fulvio Zullo, Annamaria Colao, Francesco Orio |
Journal | Diabetes care
(Diabetes Care)
Vol. 33
Issue 2
Pg. 246-51
(Feb 2010)
ISSN: 1935-5548 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19933994
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Endothelin-1
- Hypoglycemic Agents
- Placebos
- Homocysteine
- Metformin
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin B 12
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Topics |
- Adult
- Body Mass Index
- Brachial Artery
(drug effects, physiopathology)
- Double-Blind Method
- Endothelin-1
(blood)
- Endothelium, Vascular
(drug effects, physiopathology)
- Exercise
(physiology)
- Female
- Folic Acid
(therapeutic use)
- Homocysteine
(blood)
- Humans
- Hypoglycemic Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Leisure Activities
- Metformin
(therapeutic use)
- Placebos
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(blood, drug therapy, physiopathology)
- Tunica Intima
(drug effects, pathology)
- Tunica Media
(drug effects, pathology)
- Vasodilation
(drug effects)
- Vitamin B 12
(blood)
- Waist-Hip Ratio
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