Petya Kamenova, Iliyana Atanasova and Georgi Kirilov
Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of metformin on cardiometabolic risk factors as visceral obesity, hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and arterial hypertension in hyperinsulinaemic normal glucose tolerant people with metabolic syndrome who represent a high-risk group for development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Methods: 52 participants (20 men/32 women) of mean age 40.1 ± 14.2 yrs were included in an open-label prospective one year observational clinical study in which cardiometabolic risk markers at three months intervals were followed. Metformin was applied at a mean dose of 2.55 ± 0.2 g daily on a usual diet and physical activity.
Results: Body mass index, waist circumference, fasting serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance significantly reduced at 6, 9 month and at 1 year of metformin treatment (all p<0.001). Fasting plasma glucose and 2-h post glucose load serum insulin significantly decreased at 3, 6, 9 month and at 1 year (both p<0.001). Triglycerides, systolic and distolic blood pressure significantly decreased at 9 month and at 1 year (all p<0.001). LDL cholesterol significantly reduced at 9 month and at 1 year (p=0.001). HDL cholesterol significantly increased at 1 year of metformin treatment (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Metformin reduces cardiometabolic risk factors in hyperinsulinaemic, normal glucose tolerant people with metabolic syndrome and could be considered as a therapeutic option for prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.