Effect of metformin on serum ferritin level in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common diseases among women associat-ed with various inflammatory reactants such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin. This study aimed to investi-gate the effect of metformin on probable reduction of serum ferritin in patients with PCOS.

METHODS

This study was conducted on 45 patients with PCOS who had not other systemic diseases and did not take any medications. Weight, waist and hip circumstances (WHR), body mass index (BMI), metabolic indexes, CRP, ferritin and "Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) ˝ were measured before the study. Metformin (500 mg/tid) tablets were prescribed for three months and then same above parameters were re-measured.

RESULTS

Of 45 patients, 19 (42.2%) were overweight and 14 (31.1%) were obese. After drug therapy, there was a significant reduction in waist circumstance and serum ferritin. This reduction was significant only in the lean and overweight groups but not in the obese group. There was not significant association between serum ferritin and CRP, HOMA-IR, BMI and WHR. There was not significant correlation between CRP and HOMA-IR and also BMI.

CONCLUSION

The effect of metformin on reduction of serum ferritin was not significant just in obese group and was not associated with metabolic and anthropometric indexes.