CiteULike: omalbam's metformin

Metformin versus Insulin for the Treatment of Gestational Diabetes

Janet Rowan — 2008-05-08T02:04:07-00:00

N Engl J Med, Vol. 358, No. 19. (8 May 2008), pp. 2003-2015.

Background Metformin is a logical treatment for women with gestational diabetes mellitus, but randomized trials to assess the efficacy and safety of its use for this condition are lacking. Methods We randomly assigned 751 women with gestational diabetes mellitus at 20 to 33 weeks of gestation to open treatment with metformin (with supplemental insulin if required) or insulin. The primary outcome was a composite of neonatal hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, need for phototherapy, birth trauma, 5-minute Apgar score less than 7, or prematurity. The trial was designed to rule out a 33% increase (from 30% to 40%) in this composite outcome in infants of women treated with metformin as compared with those treated with insulin. Secondary outcomes included neonatal anthropometric measurements, maternal glycemic control, maternal hypertensive complications, postpartum glucose tolerance, and acceptability of treatment. Results Of the 363 women assigned to metformin, 92.6% continued to receive metformin until delivery and 46.3% received supplemental insulin. The rate of the primary composite outcome was 32.0% in the group assigned to metformin and 32.2% in the insulin group (relative risk, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.90 to 1.10). More women in the metformin group than in the insulin group stated that they would choose to receive their assigned treatment again (76.6% vs. 27.2%, P<0.001). The rates of other secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. There were no serious adverse events associated with the use of metformin. Conclusions In women with gestational diabetes mellitus, metformin (alone or with supplemental insulin) is not associated with increased perinatal complications as compared with insulin. The women preferred metformin to insulin treatment. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, 12605000311651.) 10.1056/NEJMoa0707193

Normalization of metabolic syndrome using fenofibrate, metformin or their combination

Nieuwdorp — 2007-10-19T05:29:25-00:00

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Vol. 9, No. 6. (November 2007), pp. 869-878.

Asymmetrical Dimethylarginine, Inflammatory and Metabolic Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome before and after Metformin Treatment

Dennis Heutling — 2008-01-10T23:45:27-00:00

J Clin Endocrinol Metab, Vol. 93, No. 1. (1 January 2008), pp. 82-90.

Context: Insulin resistance plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and represents a link to the unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile frequently found in affected patients. The endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetrical dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) is associated with atherosclerosis and represents an independent marker for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Objective: We investigated ADMA levels among other cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal parameters in women with PCOS and the effects of metformin treatment on these parameters. Design: A cross-sectional study and clinical trial were performed. Patients and Participants: Women with PCOS (n = 83) compared with a control group of healthy women (n = 39) were studied. Interventions: In a subgroup of patients with PCOS (n = 21), the effect of metformin was assessed after 6 months of treatment. Main Outcome Measures: ADMA, intima media thickness (IMT), metabolic and hormonal parameters, and markers of inflammation were investigated. Results: ADMA levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group compared with controls (0.57 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.11; P = 0.024). Androgens, C-reactive protein, fasting C-peptide, area under the curve (AUC) insulin, AUC glucose, homeostatic assessment of insulin resistance, fasting insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and IMT were significantly higher in women with PCOS compared with controls. In PCOS patients ADMA was found to be positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio, parameters of insulin sensitivity, hyperandrogenemia (free testosterone, free androgen index), and IMT. Treatment with metformin ameliorated hyperandrogenemia and decreased ADMA levels (0.53 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.09, P = 0.013). Decrease in ADMA levels subsequent to metformin treatment did not correlate with change in BMI or metabolic parameters. Conclusions: ADMA amd parameters of insulin sensitivity are elevated in women with PCOS and the degree of insulin resistance confers the greatest influence on ADMA level. Metformin treatment led to improvement of hormonal and metabolic parameters and decreased ADMA levels possibly independent of BMI and metabolic changes. 10.1210/jc.2007-0842

Lifestyle Intervention and Metformin for Treatment of Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Ren Wu — 2008-01-08T22:11:10-00:00

JAMA, Vol. 299, No. 2. (2008), pp. 185-193.

Context Weight gain, a common adverse effect of antipsychotic medications, is associated with medical comorbidities in psychiatric patients. Objective To test the efficacy of lifestyle intervention and metformin alone and in combination for antipsychotic-induced weight gain and abnormalities in insulin sensitivity. Design, Setting, and Patients A randomized controlled trial (October 2004-December 2006) involving 128 adult patients with schizophrenia in the Mental Health Institute of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China. Participants who gained more than 10% of their predrug weight were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Interventions Patients continued their antipsychotic medication and were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of placebo, 750 mg/d of metformin alone, 750 mg/d of metformin and lifestyle intervention, or lifestyle intervention only. Main Outcome Measures Body mass index, waist circumference, insulin levels, and insulin resistance index. Results All 128 first-episode schizophrenia patients maintained relatively stable psychiatric improvement. The lifestyle-plus-metformin group had mean decreases in body mass index (BMI) of 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.3), insulin resistance index of 3.6 (95% CI, 2.7-4.5), and waist circumference of 2.0 cm (95% CI, 1.5-2.4 cm). The metformin-alone group had mean decreases in BMI of 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9-1.5), insulin resistance index of 3.5 (95% CI, 2.7-4.4), and waist circumference of 1.3 cm (95% CI, 1.1-1.5 cm). The lifestyle-plus-placebo group had mean decreases in BMI of 0.5 (95 CI, 0.3-0.8) and insulin resistance index of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.5-1.5). However, the placebo group had mean increases in BMI of 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9-1.5), insulin resistance index of 0.4 (95% CI, 0.1-0.7), and waist circumference of 2.2 cm (95% CI, 1.7-2.8 cm). The lifestyle-plus-metformin treatment was significantly superior to metformin alone and to lifestyle plus placebo for weight, BMI, and waist circumference reduction. Conclusions Lifestyle intervention and metformin alone and in combination demonstrated efficacy for antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Lifestyle intervention plus metformin showed the best effect on weight loss. Metformin alone was more effective in weight loss and improving insulin sensitivity than lifestyle intervention alone. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00451399