The effect of metformin on the lipid profile of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies affecting 4 to 7% of women in the reproductive age. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of metformin on the lipid profile of women with PCOS. This randomized controlled study was conducted in public and private obstetrics clinics in Sanandaj city, Northwest Iran. One hundred women with polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed by the Rotterdam criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients with premature ovarian failure, hyperprolactinemia, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, adrenal hyperplasia, and androgen-secreting tumors, were excluded. The patients were randomly divided into case (n=50) and control (n=50) groups. Metformin was prescribed for the case group for 6 months. The patients in the control group received tablet of pepper mint. Fasting insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) levels were checked 3 and 6 months after for all the participants. Data were analyzed using t and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found before and after intervention regarding the serum cholestrol, and triglycerid levels. Key words: Lipid profile, metformin, polycystic ovary syndrome.