Elsevier

Fertility and Sterility

Volume 94, Issue 6, November 2010, Pages 2208-2213
Fertility and Sterility

Polycystic ovary syndrome
Effects of metformin plus simvastatin on polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.11.045Get rights and content
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Objective

To evaluate the effect of a combination of simvastatin and metformin on biochemical parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Setting

University hospital.

Patient(s)

Eighty-four women with PCOS randomly divided to two study groups.

Intervention(s)

Patients were randomly assigned to receive metformin (500 mg three times a day) plus simvastatin (20 mg/day, n = 42; group 1) or metformin (500 mg three times a day) plus placebo (once a day, n = 42; group 2) for 12 weeks. Blood samples were obtained before and after treatment.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Testosterone.

Result(s)

After 12 weeks of treatment, serum T levels decreased by 25.5% in group 1 and by 16.8% in group 2. There was a greater decrease of LH (45.5% vs. 6.7%) and a greater decline of the LH/FSH ratio (38.3% decreased vs. 4.4% increased) in the first group. In group 1 there was a greater decrease of total cholesterol (29.5% vs. 4.2%), low-density lipoprotein (LDL; 18.5% vs. 1.5%), and triglycerides (32% vs. 5.3%). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased in the first group by 14%, whereas it decreased by 1% in the second group.

Conclusion(s)

This report has demonstrated that the combination of metformin and simvastatin could lead to a better reduction of T and LH levels and thus reversing the LH:FSH ratio, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in patients with PCOS and may be an appropriate management option for patients with PCOS.

Key Words

Polycystic ovary syndrome
metformin
simvastatin
testosterone
lipid profile

Cited by (0)

T.K. has nothing to disclose. A.S.-B. has nothing to disclose. S.D. has nothing to disclose. N.A. has nothing to disclose. F.G. has nothing to disclose. Y.K. has nothing to disclose.