Abstract
Maternal obesity during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are both associated with of several postnatal diseases in the offspring, including obesity, early onset hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and reproductive alterations. Metformin is an oral drug that is being evaluated to treat GDM, obesity-associated insulin resistance, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during pregnancy. The beneficial effects of metformin on glycemia and pregnancy outcomes place it as a good alternative for its use during pregnancy. In this line of thought, improving the metabolic status of the pregnant mother by using metformin should avoid the consequences of insulin resistance on the offspring's fetal and postnatal development. However, some human and animal studies have shown that metformin during pregnancy could amplify these alterations and be associated with excessive postnatal weight gain and obesity. In this minireview, we discuss not only the clinical and experimental evidence that supports the benefits of using metformin during pregnancy but also the evidence showing a possible negative impact of this drug on the offspring's development.
Highlights
Metformin has been one of the most successful drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the world
When the offspring exposed to metformin are fed with a high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks, both males and females, demonstrate higher weight gain compared to the offspring of mothers not treated with the drug
It is important to note that the specific features of each patient (PCOS, hyperandrogenism, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), low adherence to insulin, risk of preeclampsia) are important to consider when estimating the risk/benefits ratio
Summary
Metformin has been one of the most successful drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the world. Several studies have analyzed the use of metformin as an alternative to treat gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), PCOS during pregnancy and even maternal obesity during pregnancy.
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