Ovulatory Recovery following weight loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity: a post hoc analysis of the BAMBINI randomised controlled trial
Abstract
Study question: What is the frequency of ovulatory recovery (OvR) after different degrees of total weight loss (TWL) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity, and can an excessive degree of TWL be identified that is harmful to the chance of OvR?
Summary answer: Any degree of TWL was associated with a higher likelihood of OvR, and no upper threshold of TWL associated with reduced OvR was identified.
What is known already: Modest weight loss (5-10%) improves reproductive function in women with PCOS. However, the relationship between greater degrees of TWL and OvR remains uncertain.
Study design, size, duration: Secondary post hoc analysis of a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial (BAMBINI) conducted in the UK between February 2020 and April 2023. Eighty women were randomised (1:1) to standard medical care or vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Seventy-five were included in this analysis and followed up for 52 weeks.
Participants/materials, setting, methods: Participants had PCOS, a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher, and oligomenorrhea/amenorrhoea. OvR was defined as two consecutive biochemically confirmed ovulatory events (serum progesterone 16.0 nmol/l or higher), occurring 3-5 weeks apart within the 52 week follow up period. Associations between TWL, reproductive hormones, and OvR were analysed using logistic regression. Analyses were exploratory and not prespecified.
Main results and the role of chance: At 52 weeks, 50.8% (38/75) achieved OvR. OvR…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Metformin as an adjuvant in breast cancer treatment
- Metformin Lysosomal Targeting: A Novel Aspect to Be Investigated for Metformin Repurposing in Neurodegenerative Diseases?
- Aberrant HSF1 signaling activation underlies metformin amelioration of myocardial infarction in mice
- Metformin induces ZFP36 by mTORC1 inhibition in cervical cancer-derived cell lines
- Protein Interaction Network for Identifying Vascular Response of Metformin (Oral Antidiabetic)
- Preventing Long COVID With Metformin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.