Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B Is Elevated in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Can Be Decreased With Metformin Treatment
October 2015
in “
Clinical Endocrinology
”
TLDR Women with PCOS have higher levels of a certain growth factor, which can be reduced by taking metformin.
The study investigated serum vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) in 103 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to 96 healthy controls, finding that VEGF-B levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group. These elevated levels were positively correlated with body mass index, body fat percentage, insulin resistance, and ß-cell function. After treatment with metformin, a significant reduction in VEGF-B levels and improvement in insulin resistance was observed in the PCOS group. The research suggests that VEGF-B is linked to insulin resistance in PCOS and that metformin can effectively lower VEGF-B levels and improve metabolic outcomes in these patients.
