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Effects of Slow-Acting Metformin Treatment on the Hormonal and Morphological Thyroid Profile in Patients with Insulin Resistance

Authors :
Rosita A. Condorelli
Rossella Cannarella
Antonio Aversa
Livia Basile
Ottavia Avola
Aldo E. Calogero
Sandro La Vignera
Source :
Pharmaceutics; Volume 14; Issue 10; Pages: 1987
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022.

Abstract

Metformin appears to reduce TSH levels in untreated hypothyroid patients. In contrast, in euthyroid patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metformin is initially devoid of effects on TSH. However, it is followed by a significant reduction in TSH level after twelve months of treatment. Additionally, some evidence suggests that metformin may also improve thyroid morphological abnormalities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of metformin not only on TSH and thyroid hormone values, but also on thyroid volume and nodules. A total of 50 patients (mean age: 36.9 ± 12.8 years) with insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index ≥2.5) and with thyroid uninodular disease were recruited for this study. They were prescribed slow-acting metformin at a daily dose of 500 mg for six months. Treatment with metformin in euthyroid patients with uninodular thyroid disease and insulin resistance reduces TSH levels, increases FT4 and FT3 values, and decreases thyroid and nodule volumes. These data suggest that metformin may be an effective drug not only for the treatment of T2DM and metabolic syndrome, but also for thyroid disease.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994923
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Pharmaceutics; Volume 14; Issue 10; Pages: 1987
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....c960bc2648214019270860acc1391184
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14101987