TY  - EJOU
AU  - Tarkun, İlhan 
AU  - Dikmen, Emre 
AU  - Çetinarslan, Berrin 
AU  - Cantürk, Zeynep 

TI  - Impact of treatment with metformin on adipokines in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
T2  - European Cytokine Network

PY  - 2010
VL  - 21
IS  - 4
SN  - 1952-4005

AB  - Background. Adipose tissue synthesizes various adipokines such as resistin, adiponectin and visfa-tin,
which have an effect on insulin resistance. This study was designed to show the effect of metformin, one of
the most important drugs used to reduce insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),
on these adipokines. Methods. The study group consisted of 24 women with PCOS and 25 healthy, age- and
weight-matched, normally menstruating women. Hormone and lipid profiles, visfatin, adiponectin and resistin
were measured in all cases, before and after metformin treatment. Results. Serum visfatin levels were found to
be significantly higher in patients with PCOS, compared to controls. Following metformin treatment, a signifi-cant
decrease was observed in visfatin levels compared to the baseline. A positive correlation was found between
serum visfatin levels and BMI, waist circumference, HOMA, insulin and triglyceride levels. No statistically
significant difference was observed in terms of serum adiponectin levels in women with PCOS before and after
treatment, or in healthy controls. Serum resistin levels were significantly reduced by metformin treatment.
Conclusion. These findings suggest that visfatin may be related to the obesity and insulin resistance that is
frequently encountered in patients with PCOS. A reduction in serum visfatin and resistin levels was shown
with metformin treatment, in patients with PCOS.
KW  - adipokines
KW  -  PCOS
KW  -  insulin resistance
KW  -  metformin

DO  - 10.1684/ecn.2010.0217