Effect of Metformin Using 2-Hour Postload Insulin for Measuring Insulin Resistance in Taiwanese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The study evaluated the effects of metformin on 114 Taiwanese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on insulin resistance (IR) and body mass index (BMI). Metformin significantly improved BMI in overweight patients and reduced 2-hour insulin levels, with greater improvement observed in IR patients. Diagnostic measures for IR showed varying sensitivity and specificity, with the 2-hour postload insulin level being proposed as a convenient screening tool. The study also noted that extended-release (XR) metformin may improve treatment adherence. The results suggest that metformin is effective for improving IR and BMI in overweight and IR Taiwanese women with PCOS, and the 2-hour postload insulin level from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) could be a practical method for IR screening in this population. However, the study had limitations, including the absence of a comparison group, and further research is needed to confirm these findings in different populations and establish a specific cutoff for diagnosing IR in PCOS women.