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Metformin improves glucose, lipid metabolism, and reduces blood pressure in hypertensive, obese women

Giugliano D, De Rosa N, Di Maro G, Marfella R, Acampora R, Buoninconti R, D'Onofrio F

Diabetes care, 1993

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of metformin on blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and some metabolic and endocrine parameters in nondiabetic, obese, hypertensive women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Twelve obese, nondiabetic, hypertensive women received 850 mg metformin 2 times/day for 12 wk and placebo for another 12 wk, according to a double-blind, cross-over, randomized design. All patients were hospitalized 4 times, i.e., before randomization and after each treatment (metformin or placebo), to conduct metabolic and cardiovascular investigations (oral glucose tolerance test, euglycemic clamp associated with indirect calorimetry, and echocardiography).

RESULTS: Fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting and glucose-stimulated insulin, blood pressure and left ventricular mass, cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen decreased significantly after metformin treatment, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased. The improvement in glucose metabolism resulted from increased sensitivity to insulin.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that metformin treatment in obese, nondiabetic, hypertensive women produces a more favorable cardiovascular risk profile.

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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