Published in:
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51 (2006) 3, Seite 192-196
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1177/070674370605100310
ISSN:
1497-0015;
0706-7437
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
Objective:To assess whether metformin prevents body weight gain (BWG) and metabolic dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia who are treated with olanzapine.Method:Forty patients taking olanzapine (10 mg daily) were randomly allocated to a metformin ( n = 20; 850 to 1700 mg daily) or placebo ( n = 20) group in a 14-week double-blind study. Waist circumference (WC), BWG, body mass index (BMI) fasting glucose, insulin, and lipids were evaluated at baseline and at Weeks 7 and 14 of treatment.Results:At Week 14, BWG (kg) was similar in the metformin group (5.5 kg) and the placebo group (6.3 kg), P = 0.4. There were no differences between the changes in BMI, WC, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and plasma lipid levels observed in the treatment group and the placebo group; however, glucose levels decreased significantly after metformin administration ( P = 0.02). The HOMA-IR decreased significantly in both groups, but 3 subjects from the placebo group developed fasting glucose levels greater than 5 mmol/L. After taking metformin, triglyceride levels increased, but the cholesterol profile improved significantly.Conclusions:Metformin did not prevent olanzapine-induced BWG. While some lipid parameters worsened during placebo, the HOMA-IR improved in both the placebo and the metformin groups. Carbohydrate metabolism impairment was not systematically observed during short-term olanzapine administration.