The impact of metformin with or without lifestyle modification versus placebo on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors' conclusion
Metformin should be considered an efficacious adjunct to lifestyle interventions in adults with PCOS, especially for those with a higher BMI, to improve weight loss, insulin resistance, and lipids.
Study context
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); RCTs from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, All EBM and CINAHL
- Comparison
- Metformin with or without lifestyle modification vs placebo
- Outcome
- Critical outcomes: Body mass index (BMI) and HOMA-IR
Methodological detailsPRISMA guidelines, RCTs published in English through July 2022
- PRISMA guidelines
- RCTs published in English through July 2022
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs placeboMD (BMI), kg/m2 (95% CI)
Metformin
−0.53(−0.95 to −0.12)
Each group vs placeboMD (HOMA-IR) (95% CI)
Metformin
−0.50(−0.91 to −0.09)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (mmol/L) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucoseModerate certainty | −0.13 (−0.19 to −0.07) | |
| Total cholesterolLow certainty | −0.24 (−0.43 to −0.05) | |
| Low-density lipoproteinLow certainty | −0.16 (−0.30 to −0.01) | |
| TGLow certainty | −0.11 (−0.20 to −0.02) | |
| −0.6−0.4−0.200.2Difference, mmol/L (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| WHRLow certainty | −0.02 (−0.03 to −0.00) | |
| −0.04−0.0200.02Difference (linear scale) |
Safety
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mild gastrointestinal adverse effectsModerate certainty | 7.67 (2.74–21.46) | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
The impact of metformin with or without lifestyle modification versus placebo on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 4 August 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →