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.
343 citations,
December 2008 in “Endocrine Reviews” Metformin helps with menstrual cycles and insulin levels in PCOS but is less effective for hair growth, diabetes prevention, and weight loss, and may improve fertility and reduce diabetes risk.
4025 citations,
December 2003 in “Human Reproduction” The 2003 consensus updated PCOS diagnosis criteria and linked PCOS to higher risks of diabetes and heart problems, recommending lifestyle changes to lower these risks.
4 citations,
May 2022 in “International journal of molecular sciences” Heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 may promote hair growth and transition hair follicles to the growth phase.
October 2023 in “Frontiers in endocrinology” Effective PCOS treatments require targeting specific signaling pathways.
258 citations,
July 2016 in “Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology” The document concludes that insulin resistance is key in PCOS development and early treatment is crucial to prevent complications.
3 citations,
May 2023 in “Biomedicines” PCOS causes infertility mainly due to hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation.
1 citations,
March 2024 in “Signal transduction and targeted therapy” NF-κB signaling is crucial in many diseases and can be targeted for new treatments.