Impact of metformin on liver perfusion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the impact of 6-month treatment with metformin on some liver functions and hepatic perfusion in obese women with PCOS and NAFLD. Twenty women with PCOS and NAFLD were given a total daily dose of 1.7 g of metformin for six consecutive months. BMI, fasting serum glucose, serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GOT], total and conjugated bilirubin and serum albumin were assayed. Total liver blood flow was assessed by Doppler ultrasound and was taken as the sum of flow volumes in the common hepatic artery and portal vein. All parameters were measured before and six months after metformin treatment. BMI, fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, serum triglycerides and LDL decreased significantly, whereas HDL increased significantly, after metformin treatment. Basal serum ALT levels were higher than normal with a tendency towards reduction after metformin therapy, which did not reach statistical significance. Hepatic arterial blood flow, portal vein blood flow and consequently total hepatic blood flow increased significantly in PCOS women six months after metformin therapy. Six-month treatment with metformin had a favorable impact on some liver function tests and hepatic perfusion in PCOS women with NAFLD