The Metformin-Induced Changes on BMI, TSH, and Thyroid Hormones Profile of Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of metformin on BMI, TSH, thyroid hormones profile, and some clinical symptoms in 32 women with PCOS. Methods: The patients received metformin at a dose of 500 mg/day which was gradually increased to 1500 mg/day and continued for 3 months. The level of BMI, TSH, T4, and T3 was measured at baseline, 3 months after treatment with metformin and 3 months after drug withdrawal. The association of metformin therapy with prevalence of constipation, hypersomnia, cold intolerance, and dry skin was also determined in these times. Results: Three months after treatment with metformin, mean BMI and TSH was significantly decreased from baseline to 28.34±2.5 kg/m 2 and 2.27±0.89 μUI/ml, respectively. There was no significant difference in TSH levels before treatment and 3 months after drug withdrawal. Mean T3 and T4 levels was slightly increased during metformin therapy and significantly decreased after drug withdrawal. Treatment with metformin significantly decreased the prevalence of hypersomnia and dry skin in patients. Conclusion: The effect of metformin on TSH and thyroid hormones profile gives us an idea about the efficacy of metformin as a sole therapy or as an adjuvant in patients with PCOS and subclinical hypothyroidism, respectively.

Altered Thyroid Function amongst the Infertile Insulin Resistant Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

“…In this research, we found that infertile PCOS patients had higher prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism as compared to infertile control women. The verdicts of the current study are consistent with Nemati et al who establish that PCOS women had a substantially higher prevalence of TSH with a significantly higher TSH levels above the maximum limit of normal when compared to the control group [24,25]. Similarly, another study also found the higher mean serum TSH level in PCOS women than in same-age controls which concluded higher proportion of PCOS had subclinical hypothyroidism [26].…”