Effect of metformin on serum visfatin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 880 - 884
• Main Authors: Ozkaya, Mesut, Assistant Professor, Cakal, Erman, Specialist, Ustun, Yusuf, Associate Professor, Engin-Ustun, Yaprak, Associate Professor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-02-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytokines - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Homeostasis - physiology; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Internal Medicine; Lipids - blood; Medical sciences; Metformin - therapeutic use; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase - blood; Non tumoral diseases; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - blood; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - drug therapy; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Waist Circumference; Young Adult; Human; Gynecology; Female sterility; Polycystic ovary; Obstetrics; Female genital diseases; Ovarian diseases; Hypoglycemic agent; Biguanides; Cyst; Serum; Benign neoplasm; Metformin
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.10.058

Objective To evaluate serum visfatin levels and to determine the effects of metformin treatment on visfatin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Nineteen patients with PCOS and 21 controls. Intervention(s) Metformin was given to patients with PCOS, and serum visfatin levels were measured before and after treatment. Main Outcome Measure(s) Glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, DHEAS, total T, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and visfatin levels were measured. Result(s) Serum visfatin levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in controls. Visfatin could differentiate between women with and without increased diabetogenic risk at a cut-off value of 19.24 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 84%. In bivariate analysis of subjects, T, insulin, and waist circumference were significantly and positively correlated with visfatin. Treatment resulted in a significant decrease in body mass index and a decrease in visfatin concentration. After therapy, statistically significant decreases in HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, free T, and DHEAS concentrations were observed for the PCOS group. Conclusion(s) Circulating visfatin levels were higher in patients with PCOS than healthy controls, and metformin treatment significantly reduced circulating visfatin concentrations after 3 months of therapy.