ESPE Abstracts

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies, affecting 5–10% of population. Insulin resistance, apolipoprotein B:apolipoprotein A1 ratio, and BMI commonly increases in obese PCOS patients and are among the indicators of the disease. On the other hand, metformin and cinnamon are generally believed to control these.

Objective and hypotheses: To compare the effects of cinnamon with those of the metformin on insulin resistance, apolipoprotein B:apolipoprotein A1 ratio, and BMI of obese adolescent girls with PCOS.

Method: In a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 112 adolescent girls (12.6–17 years old) with PCOS were treated with cinnamon extract (500 mg twice daily), metformin (500 mg twice daily), or placebo, at the Outpatient Paediatric Endocrine Clinic of a University Children’s Hospital in Tehran for 1 year.

Results: Cinnamon and metformin differed from placebo in significantly decreasing insulin resistance: both homeostasis model insulin resistance index (P<0.005) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (P<0.01), and also apolipoprotein B:apolipoprotein A1 ratio. There was no significant difference between cinnamon and metformin effects on these indexes, however they both slightly but significantly decreased body mass index compared to placebo (P<0.05).

Conclusion: This first randomised controlled clinical trial in obese teenage girls with PCOS shows that cinnamon does not differ from metformin in decreasing the insulin resistance but decrease the BMI less.