Obstetrics
Metformin does not improve pregnancy outcomes in obese women
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Metformin given to obese pregnant women had no significant impact on babies’ birthweight
Maternal obesity in pregnancy can adversely affect mother and child. Offspring have increased birthweight, and in adulthood they have an increased risk of obesity and a 35% increase in risk of death. Maternal insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia are implicated in these outcomes, so a new trial examines the impact of the insulin-sensitising drug metformin on obese, pregnant women.
In all, 449 obese women with normal glucose tolerance were randomly assigned metformin 500–2500mg daily or placebo from the second trimester until delivery. Metformin had no significant impact on babies’ birthweight or on a composite end point of miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, stillbirth or neonatal death.
Metformin was associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers in pregnant women, however, and the babies will continue to be monitored for longer-term treatment effects, say the study authors in The Lancet (online, 9 July 2015)[1].
- This research briefing was amended on 13 August 2015 to clarify that a reduction in inflammatory markers was seen in pregnant women.
Citation: The Pharmaceutical Journal DOI: 10.1211/PJ.2015.20069022
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Readers' comments (1)
Hamid Ali13 AUG 2015 12:41
The last para about reduction in inflammatory markers is a little ambiguous. From the text, it seems like this effect is observed in babies. From original study in LANCET, it seems like the test relates to maternal blood at 36 weeks?
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