Effects of Short Term Metformin Treatment on Brown Adipose Tissue Activity and Plasma Irisin Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Flávia R. Oliveira; Marcelo Mamede; Mariana F. Bizzi; Ana Luiza L. Rocha; Cláudia N. Ferreira; Karina B. Gomes; Ana L. Cândido; Fernando M. Reis

doi:10.1055/a-1157-0615

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 2020; 52(10): 718-723
DOI: 10.1055/a-1157-0615

Endocrine Care

Effects of Short Term Metformin Treatment on Brown Adipose Tissue Activity and Plasma Irisin Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Flávia R. Oliveira

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

⁶Odete Valadares Maternity Hospital, Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Marcelo Mamede

²Department of Anatomy and Imaging, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Mariana F. Bizzi

³Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Ana Luiza L. Rocha

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Cláudia N. Ferreira

⁴Technical College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Karina B. Gomes

⁵Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Ana L. Cândido

³Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Fernando M. Reis

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic dysfunction associated with obesity and metabolic disorders that can be ameliorated by treatment with metformin. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been recently identified in adult humans, and irisin is a myokine that induces BAT formation. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate whether a short term treatment with metformin alters BAT activity and plasma irisin levels in women with PCOS. The participants were randomly assigned to receive metformin (1500 mg/day, n=21) or placebo (n=24) during 60 days. BAT activity was assessed by ¹⁸F-FDG positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and plasma irisin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay. The groups were similar in age, body measures, metabolic profile and PCOS phenotypes. BAT activity did not change significantly in the women treated with metformin (median Δ SUV_max=–0.06 g/ml, interquartile interval –2.81 to 0.24 g/ml, p=0.484, Wilcoxon’s test) or placebo (median Δ SUV_max=0.98 g/ml, interquartile interval –2.94 to 4.60 g/ml, p=0.386). In addition, plasma irisin levels remained unchanged in the groups treated with metformin (median Δ=–98 ng/ml, interquartile interval –366 to 60 ng/ml, p=0.310) and placebo (median Δ=28 ng/ml, interquartile interval –1260 to 215 ng/ml, p=0.650). These results suggest that in PCOS women BAT activity and plasma irisin levels may not change after a brief treatment with metformin.

Key words

brown adipose tissue - PET-CT - PCOS - metformin - irisin - randomized controlled trial

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material