scholarly journals Insulin-sensitizing agents in polycystic ovary syndrome

2006 ◽  
Vol 154 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Pasquali ◽  
Alessandra Gambineri

Insulin-sensitizing agents have been recently proposed as the therapy of choice for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), since insulin resistance and associated hyperinsulinemia are recognized as important pathogenetic factors of the syndrome. Moreover, since almost all obese PCOS women and more than half of those of normal weight are insulin resistant, and therefore present some degree of hyperinsulinemia, the use of insulin sensitizers should be suggested in most patients with PCOS. Insulin sensitizer treatment has been associated with a reduction in serum androgen levels and gonadotropins, and with an improvement in serum lipids and in prothrombotic factor plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1, whatever the insulin sensitizer used. This therapy has also been associated with a decrease in hirsutism and acne, and with a regulation of menses and an improvement of ovulation and fertility. Notable improvements in all these parameters have also been described after a change in lifestyle approach, particularly in the presence of obesity. Lifestyle interventions should therefore be combined with insulin sensitizers in PCOS when obesity is present.

2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojca Jensterle ◽  
Miran Sebestjen ◽  
Andrej Janez ◽  
Janez Prezelj ◽  
Tomaz Kocjan ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThere is evidence of preclinical cardiovascular disease even in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of our study was to assess and compare the effects of metformin (MET) and rosiglitazone (ROSI) on endothelial function in PCOS patients.MethodsFor 6 months, 26 women with PCOS received either MET or ROSI. Blood samples for assessment of androgens, lipids, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein were taken at baseline and at endpoint. Endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate-induced endothelium-independent dilation of brachial artery were studied before and after treatment. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMAIR) calculation was applied as a measure of insulin resistance (IR).ResultsWith treatment, FMD of brachial artery improved significantly from 4.2±6.6 to 10.2±5.9% in MET group (P=0.036) and from 2.9±3.2 to 7.6±4.9% in ROSI group (P=0.026), MET being as effective as ROSI (P=0.70). The endothelium-independent dilation did not change. Additionally, administration of MET was associated with a significant decrease in HOMAIR (P=0.003), serum total and serum-free testosterone (P=0.045 and P=0.008 respectively) and significantly higher frequencies of menstrual bleeding (P=0.006).ConclusionsA 6-month therapy with insulin sensitizers, MET and ROSI, resulted in marked improvement of endothelial function in young PCOS patients without clinically evident atherosclerosis who were not severely insulin resistant. Neither drug was superior to the other. We conclude that therapeutic intervention with either insulin sensitizer may reverse the atherosclerotic process in PCOS patients at its early stage.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Mate ◽  
Antonio J. Blanca ◽  
Rocío Salsoso ◽  
Fernando Toledo ◽  
Pablo Stiefel ◽  
...  

Pregnancy hypertensive disorders such as Preeclampsia (PE) are strongly correlated with insulin resistance, a condition in which the metabolic handling of D-glucose is deficient. In addition, the impact of preeclampsia is enhanced by other insulin-resistant disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity. For this reason, there is a clear association between maternal insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity and the development of PE. However, whether PE is a consequence or the cause of these disorders is still unclear. Insulin therapy is usually recommended to pregnant women with diabetes mellitus when dietary and lifestyle measures have failed. The advantage of insulin therapy for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) patients with hypertension is still controversial; surprisingly, there are no studies in which insulin therapy has been used in patients with hypertension in pregnancy without or with an established GDM. This review is focused on the use of insulin therapy in hypertensive disorders in the pregnancy and its effect on offspring and mother later in life. PubMed and relevant medical databases have been screened for literature covering research in the field especially in the last 5-10 years.


Author(s):  
Daniel A Dumesic ◽  
Ayli Tulberg ◽  
Megan McNamara ◽  
Tristan R Grogan ◽  
David H Abbott ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Increased aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3)-mediated conversion of androstenedione (A4) to testosterone (T) promotes lipid storage in subcutaneous (SC) abdominal adipose in overweight/obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. Objective To examine whether an elevated serum T/A4 ratio, as a marker of enhanced AKR1C3 activity in SC abdominal adipose, predicts metabolic function in normal-weight PCOS women. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Academic center. Patients Nineteen normal-weight PCOS women; 21 age- and body mass index-matched controls. Intervention(s) Circulating hormone/metabolic determinations, intravenous glucose tolerance testing, total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, SC abdominal fat biopsy. Main Outcome Measure(s) Serum T/A4 ratios, hormone/metabolic measures and AKR1C3 expression of adipocytes matured in vitro were compared between female types; serum T/A4 ratios were correlated with serum lipids, adipose insulin resistance (adipose-IR), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity (Si). Results Increased serum T/A4 ratios (P=0.040) and log adipose-IR values (P=0.002) in PCOS women versus controls were accompanied by AKR1C3 mRNA overexpression of PCOS adipocytes matured in vitro (P=0.016). Serum T/A4 ratios in PCOS women, but not controls, negatively correlated with log triglycerides (TG: R=-0.65, P=0.002) and the TG index (R=-0.57, P=0.011). Adjusting for serum free T, serum T/A4 ratios in PCOS women remained negatively correlated with log TG (R=-0.57, P=0.013) and TG index (R=-0.50, P=0.036), respectively, without significant relationships with other metabolic measures. Conclusion An elevated serum T/A4 ratio, as a marker of enhanced AKR1C3 activity in SC abdominal adipose, predicts healthy metabolic function in normal-weight PCOS women.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Hoyos ◽  
Karen Leung ◽  
Tristan Grogan ◽  
David Abbott ◽  
Gregorio Chazenbalk ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3665
Author(s):  
Mariangela Rondanelli ◽  
Antonella Riva ◽  
Giovanna Petrangolini ◽  
Pietro Allegrini ◽  
Attilio Giacosa ◽  
...  

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent endocrine disease in females of reproductive age and is characterized by multifactorial unhealthy conditions related to hormonal unbalance and also to dysmetabolism and inflammation. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that natural plant-based products may play a role in PCOS management. The aim of this one-group pretest–post-test explanatory study was to evaluate, in normal–overweight PCOS women with normal menses, the effectiveness of berberine on: Insulin resistance (IR) by Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA); Inflammation by C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α); Lipid metabolism; Sex hormone profile and symptoms correlated to hyperandrogenism, such as acne, by Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI); Body composition by DXA. Finally, adverse effects were assessed by liver and kidney functions and creatine phosphokinase (CPK). All these parameters were collected at baseline and 60 days after supplementation with a new bioavailable and safe berberine formulation. Twelve females (aged 26.6 ± 4.9, BMI 25.3 ± 3.6) were supplied for 60 days with two tablets/day (550 mg/table) of the bioavailable berberine. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in HOMA, CRP, TNF-α, Triglycerides, testosterone, Body Mass Index (BMI), Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), fat mass, GAGS and CADI scores, and a statistically significant increase in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Liver and kidney functions and CPK are not statistically significantly different. Therefore, berberine can represent a safe novel dietary supplement, helpful in treatment strategy for PCOS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  

Neuropeptides coordinate and regulate physiological processes in all animals. Alarin is a 25 amino acid neuropeptide which promotes the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). It has been known that serum luteinizing hormone levels are increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, purpose of this was to examine the association of circulating gonadotropin secretions, and alarin with women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and to compare these findings with those of control subjects in an effort to better understand the pathophysiology of PCOS. 28 participants with a diagnosis of PCOS with normal weight and 28 participants with a diagnosis of PCOS with obese and 28 control group participants were included in this case-control study. Hormone profiles of the participants (alarin, insulin, estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-SO4 ), lipid profiles total testosterone, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, cholesterol) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) values were measured. Results: Serum androgens were elevated in the PCOS. Blood LH was also elevated (P < 0.05) but was higher in PCOS than Control. Patients with PCOS had an increased alarin compared with controls. LH/FSH ratio and Alarin /FSH ratio were greater than 2.1, 2.4, respectively. The blood alarin levels were significantly correlated with the serum LH levels (r=0.492, p=0.002) and the LH/FSH ratios (r=0.450, p<0.001) and Alarin/ FSH ratios. The FSH/LH and alarin /FSH ratio were elevated in the PCOS. Based on these results, the FSH/LH and Alarin /FSH ratio appears to be a useful marker of PCOS.


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles J. Glueck ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Naila Goldenberg ◽  
Luann Sieve

Thrombophilia, hypofibrinolysis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and spontaneous abortion (SAB) alone and concurrently. The efficacy and safety of combined enoxaparin-metformin was prospectively assessed in women with PCOS with one or more previous SAB, thrombophilia, and/or hypofibrinolysis. Twenty-four white women with PCOS were studied; 23 with previous pregnancies, seven with RPL of unknown etiology (≥ three consecutive pregnancy losses <20 weeks’ gestation), two with two consecutive SABs, 13 with one SAB, and one with one live birth (HELLP syndrome). Prospectively, metformin (1.5 to 2.55 g/day) was administered before and throughout gestation, with concurrent enoxaparin (60 mg/day) throughout gestation. The 24 cases differed from 93 normal white female controls for the factor V Leiden mutation, 17% vs. 2%, Fisher’s p [pf] = .016, and for the 4G4G mutation of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene (46% vs. 24%, Chi-square 4.63, p =. 031). The patients also differed from 44 normal white female controls for high levels (> 21.1 U/mL) of the PAI-1 gene product, plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PAI-Fx) (33% vs. 8%, pf =. 018), and for high factor VIII (>150%) (22% vs. 0%, pf = .037). Of the 24 women, 23 had 65 previous pregnancies without metformin or enoxaparin, with 18 live births, 46 SAB (71%), and one elective abortion. On metforminenoxaparin, the same 23 women had 26 current pregnancies (28 fetuses), with 20 live births, two normal pregnancies 13 weeks or longer, and six SAB (21%), 3.4-fold lower than previous gestations (McNemar’s S = 33.6, p <. 0001). There were no adverse maternal or fetal therapy effects. Enoxaparin-metformin reduces pregnancy loss in women with PCOS with one or more previous SAB, who also have thrombophilia and/or hypofibrinolysis.


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