METFORMIN IMPROVES GLUCOSE, LIPID-METABOLISM, AND REDUCES BLOOD-PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVE, OBESE WOMEN

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.