Dpp4 Inhibitor Sitagliptin As A Potential Treatment Option In Metformin-Intolerant Obese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Study

Metformin has an established role in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some patients cannot tolerate it due to associated gastrointestinal adverse events. The present study evaluated the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor sitagliptin as a potential treatment option in metformin-intolerant PCOS.We conducted a 12-week, prospective, randomized, open-label study with 30 obese metformin-intolerant women with PCOS (age 35.0 ± 7.2 years; body mass index, 36.9 ± 5.5 kg/m2). After metformin withdrawal, they were randomized to lifestyle intervention and sitagliptin 100 mg daily (SITA) or lifestyle intervention alone as controls (CON). All participants underwent anthropometric and endocrine measurements and oral glucose tolerance testing. Model-derived indexes of insulin resistance and beta-cell function were calculated.SITA improved beta-cell function as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment for beta-cell function index (HOMA-B) of 45.9 ± 35.8 ( P = .001), modified beta-cell function index (MBCI) of 7.9 ± 7 ( P = .002), and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) of -0.03 ± 0.03 ( P = .002). By contrast, beta-cell function decreased in CON. The between-group differences were significant for HOMA-B ( P = 0.001), MBCI ( P = .010), and QUICKI ( P = .025). The conversion rate to impaired glucose homeostasis was prevented in SITA: 3 of 15 subjects had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) before and after the study. In CON, none had type 2 diabetes (T2D), and 4 had IGT at the beginning. After 12 weeks, IGT was observed in 2 and T2D in 3 subjects.SITA improved beta-cell function and prevented a conversion to IGT and T2D in metformin-intolerant obese PCOS patients.BMI = body mass index; DPP-4 = dipeptidyl peptidase-4; DXA = dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; GIP = glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide; GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide-1; HOMA-B = homeostasis model assessment for beta-cell function; HOMA-IR = homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; IAI = insulin action index; IGT = impaired glucose tolerance; IR = insulin resistance; MBCI = modified beta-cell function index; OGTT = oral glucose tolerance test; QUICKI = quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; PCOS = polycystic ovary syndrome; SHBG = sex hormone-binding globulin; T2D = type 2 diabetes.