Combined liraglutide and metformin therapy in overweight or obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors' conclusion
The combination of liraglutide and metformin resulted in greater improvements in body weight, blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, hormone balance (including LH, FSH and testosterone) and cholesterol profiles. These findings indicate that the combined therapy offers more comprehensive metabolic and hormonal benefits than metformin alone for women with PCOS.
Study context
- Population
- Overweight or obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Participants
- 1,657 participants19 randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Liraglutide plus metformin vs metformin monotherapy
- Outcome
- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), BMI, sex hormones (LH, FSH, TT) and lipid profiles (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C)
Methodological detailsSearched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, SinoMed and Wanfang Data
- Searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, SinoMed and Wanfang Data
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Glycaemic, BMI, sex hormone and lipid outcomes
Liraglutide + metformin vs MetforminEstimate (95% CI)
I2 = 95%
SMD (FPG) −1.92(−2.43 to −1.41)
I2 97%
SMD (2-h postprandial glucose) −2.87(−3.70 to −2.05)
I2 96%
SMD (HbA1c) −2.91(−3.84 to −1.98)
I2 97%
SMD (HOMA-IR) −2.29(−2.98 to −1.60)
I2 94%
SMD (fasting insulin) −0.75(−1.41 to −0.09)
- Body mass index (BMI) significantly reduced (SMD; I2 97%)
- −1.64 [−2.38, −0.89]
- LH improved (SMD; I2 85%)
- −1.48 [−1.83, −1.14]
- FSH improved (SMD; I2 92%)
- −1.17 [−1.62, −0.73]
- TT improved (SMD; I2 95%)
- −0.66 [−1.30, −0.03]
- TC reduced (SMD; I2 98%)
- −2.34 [−3.67, −1.01]
- TG reduced (SMD; I2 79%)
- −0.58 [−0.96, −0.21]
- LDL-C reduced (SMD; I2 91%)
- −0.79 [−1.36, −0.22]
- HDL-C increased (SMD; I2 83%)
- 0.67 [0.21, 1.13]
Further pooled results
Subgroups by treatment duration, lifestyle intervention and baseline BMI
- Longer treatment (≥16 weeks) and lack of lifestyle intervention associated with greater improvements in insulin resistance and hormone levels
- Lipid outcomes consistent across subgroups; glycaemic improvements more notable in overweight vs obese women
Original publication
Combined liraglutide and metformin therapy in overweight or obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 26 August 2025. doi:10.
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