Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 3, 647-653,
March 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
A pilot study of the long-term effects of acipimox in polycystic ovarian syndrome
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go A. Gemelli 8, Roma, 00168 and 2 OASI Institute For Research, Troina (EN), Italy
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of long-term acipimox administration on glucose-induced insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), 20 PCOS subjects (eight lean and 12 obese) and 14 body mass index-matched controls (seven lean and seven obese) were investigated. METHODS: Fasting blood samples were collected for basal hormone and lipoprotein assays, after which patients underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The following day a euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp was performed. After 4–6 weeks of treatment with acipimox at a dose of 250 mg given orally three times a day, the patients repeated the study protocol. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the glucose, insulin or C-peptide responses to OGTT before and after anti-lipolytic drug administration in any group, nor was there any effect on insulin sensitivity. Concerning the lipid profile, acipimox administration led to a significant decrease of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in obese PCOS patients as well as in obese and lean controls. Lower triglycerides were found after the drug administration in both obese groups. Post-treatment free fatty acid levels were not significantly different when compared with basal values. CONCLUSIONS: Acipimox does not appear to be an effective insulin-lowering drug in PCOS, even if it can be used in obese women with PCOS as an additional therapeutic agent to ameliorate the atherogenic lipid profile of the syndrome.
Key words: acipimox/free fatty acids/insulin/lipids/polycystic ovarian syndrome
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: alanzone{at}rm.unicatt.it
Submitted on March 30, 2001; resubmitted on October 15, 2001
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C. Belosi, L. Selvaggi, R. Apa, M. Guido, D. Romualdi, A.M. Fulghesu, and A. Lanzone Is the PCOS diagnosis solved by ESHRE/ASRM 2003 consensus or could it include ultrasound examination of the ovarian stroma? Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2006; 21(12): 3108 - 3115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|