The Antiobesity Effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Alone or in Combination with Metformin in Overweight /Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Obesity and the kidney: mechanistic links and therapeutic advances

Obesity is strongly associated with the development of diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but there is evidence for a bidirectional relationship wherein the kidney also acts as a key regulator of body weight. In this Review, we highlight the mechanisms implicated in obesity-related CKD, and outline how the kidney might modulate feeding and body weight through a growth differentiation factor 15-dependent kidney-brain axis. The favourable effects of bariatric surgery on kidney function are discussed, and medical therapies designed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus that lower body weight and preserve kidney function independent of glycaemic lowering, including sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, incretin-based therapies and metformin, are also reviewed. In summary, we propose that kidney function and body weight are related in a bidirectional fashion, and that this interrelationship affects human health and disease.

Anti-obesity pharmacological agents for polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis to inform the 2023 international evidence-based guideline

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of anti-obesity agents for hormonal, reproductive, metabolic, and psychological outcomes in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to inform the 2023 update of the International Evidence-based Guideline on PCOS. We searched Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and CINAHL until July 2022 with a 10-year limit to focus on newer agents. Eleven trials (545 and 451 participants in intervention and control arms respectively, 12 comparisons) were included. On descriptive analyses, most agents improved anthropometric outcomes; liraglutide, semaglutide and orlistat appeared superior to placebo for anthropometric outcomes. Meta-analyses were possible for two comparisons (exenatide vs. metformin and orlistat + combined oral contraceptive pill [COCP] vs. COCP alone). On meta-analysis, no differences were identified between exenatide versus metformin for anthropometric, biochemical hyperandrogenism, and metabolic outcomes, other than lower fasting blood glucose more with metformin than exenatide (MD: 0.10 mmol/L, CI 0.02-0.17, I2 = 18%, 2 trials). Orlistat + COCP did not improve metabolic outcomes compared with COCP alone (fasting insulin MD: -8.65 pmol/L, -33.55 to 16.26, I2 = 67%, 2 trials). Published data examining the effects of anti-obesity agents in women with PCOS are very limited. The role of these agents in PCOS should be a high priority for future research.

The Role of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women impacting their reproductive, mental, and metabolic health. Insulin resistance is a major driver of the pathophysiology of PCOS. There are several challenges with the management of this complex disorder including insufficient treatment options. Over the past 88 years, multiple hormonal and non-hormonal medications have been tried to treat the various components of this syndrome and there is no FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved medication specifically for PCOS yet. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have a unique mechanism of inhibiting the coupled reabsorption of sodium and glucose in renal proximal convoluted tubules. This review aims to examine the efficacy and side-effect profile of SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients with PCOS. In a limited number of studies, SGLT-2 inhibitors appear to be effective in improving menstrual frequency, reducing body weight and total fat mass, lowering total testosterone and DHEAS levels, and improving some glycemic indices in women with PCOS. SGLT2 inhibitors are generally well tolerated. With future research, it is possible that SGLT-2 inhibitors could become a key therapeutic option for PCOS.

Pathophysiology and Nutritional Approaches in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Comprehensive Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age worldwide. This disease causes menstrual, metabolic, and biochemical abnormalities such as hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulatory menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary, hyperleptinemia, insulin resistance (IR), and cardiometabolic disorders, often associated with overweight or obesity and visceral adiposity.

RECENT FINDINGS

The etiology and pathophysiology of PCOS are not yet fully understood, but insulin seems to play a key role in this disease. PCOS shares an inflammatory state with other chronic diseases such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases; however, recent studies have shown that a healthy nutritional approach can improve IR and metabolic and reproductive functions, representing a valid therapeutic strategy to ameliorate PCOS symptomatology. This review aimed to summarize and collect evidence about different nutritional approaches such as the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the ketogenic diet (KD), as well as bariatric surgery and nutraceutical supplementation as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, among the others, used in patients with PCOS.

The Potential Utility of Tirzepatide for the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. The metabolic dysfunction associated with PCOS increases the probability of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), endometrial cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Research has shown that the metabolic features of PCOS may be improved by weight loss following treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide) receptor agonist that shares a very similar mechanism of action with GLP-1R agonists, and it is hypothesized that it may be a potential contender in the treatment of PCOS. The success of GLP-1R agonists is usually hindered by their adverse gastrointestinal effects, leading to reduced compliance. The mechanism of action of Tirzepatide partly addresses this issue, as its dual receptor affinity may reduce the intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms. Tirzepatide has been licensed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and given the metabolic issues and obesity that accompanies PCOS, it may be of value in its management for those PCOS patients who are obese with metabolic syndrome, although it may not benefit those who are of normal weight. This study reviews the current therapies for the treatment of PCOS and evaluates the potential use of Tirzepatide to address the symptoms of PCOS, including reproductive dysfunction, obesity, and insulin resistance.

Metformin: A Review of Potential Mechanism and Therapeutic Utility Beyond Diabetes

Metformin has been designated as one of the most crucial first-line therapeutic agents in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Primarily being an antihyperglycemic agent, metformin also has a plethora of pleiotropic effects on various systems and processes. It acts majorly by activating AMPK (Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase) in the cells and reducing glucose output from the liver. It also decreases advanced glycation end products and reactive oxygen species production in the endothelium apart from regulating the glucose and lipid metabolism in the cardiomyocytes, hence minimizing the cardiovascular risks. Its anticancer, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on malignant cells might prove instrumental in the malignancy of organs like the breast, kidney, brain, ovary, lung, and endometrium. Preclinical studies have also shown some evidence of metformin's neuroprotective role in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease. Metformin exerts its pleiotropic effects through varied pathways of intracellular signalling and exact mechanism in the majority of them remains yet to be clearly defined. This article has extensively reviewed the therapeutic benefits of metformin and the details of its mechanism for a molecule of boon in various conditions like diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, polycystic ovarian disease, metabolic derangement in HIV, various cancers and aging.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with weight-loss attempts and perception of overweight independent of BMI: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Up to 70% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have pre-obesity or obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether women with PCOS have more weight-loss attempts than women without PCOS, regardless of BMI. Moreover, women's weight perceptions in relation to previous weight-loss attempts were evaluated.

METHODS

A population-based birth cohort study included women with (n = 278) and without PCOS (control individuals, n = 1560) who were examined at ages 31 and 46 years with questionnaires and clinical examinations.

RESULTS

Women with PCOS had more weight-loss attempts compared with control individuals at age 31 (47% vs. 34%, p < 0.001) and 46 years (63% vs. 47%, p < 0.001). At age 46 years, PCOS was associated with multiple weight-loss attempts in the adjusted model (odds ratio: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.00-2.03], p = 0.05). The perception of having overweight was more prevalent in those with PCOS, even among participants with normal weight, at age 31 (PCOS 47% vs. control 34%, p = 0.014) and 46 years (PCOS 60% vs. control 39%, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with PCOS were more likely to have experienced multiple weight-loss attempts and a perception of having overweight compared with control individuals, regardless of obesity status.

[Comparison of therapeutic effect of metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin and liraglutide on type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese patients]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of two therapeutic strategies based on metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin and liraglutide on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 107 obese patients (BMI>25 kg/m2) with T2DM treated in Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Wuhu, China) during 2019-2021, including 53 patients treated continuously with metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin and 54 with liraglutide for 3 months. The changes in BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose, HbA1C, fasting C-peptide, postprandial C-peptide, fasting insulin and postprandial insulin of the patients after treatment were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

In both of the groups, the patients all showed significant reductions of BMI, waist circumference, FBG, postprandial blood glucose and HbA1C (all P < 0.05) with improved fasting and postprandial C-peptide levels after the treatments (P < 0.05). The two treatment regimens showed comparable blood glucoselowering effects, but liraglutide produced better effect in reducing waist circumference (P < 0.01). Neither of two regimens obviously affected insulin level of the patients (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin and liraglutide have good therapeutic effects on T2DM in obese patients and can achieve good blood glucose and weight control, but liraglutide has a better effect for weight control.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Metformin: A Scoping Review Evaluating the Feasibility of Brown Adipose Tissue as a Therapeutic Target

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is increasingly recognized as the major therapeutic target to promote energy expenditure and ameliorate diverse metabolic complications. There is a general interest in understanding the pleiotropic effects of metformin against metabolic complications. Major electronic databases and search engines such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane library were used to retrieve and critically discuss evidence reporting on the impact of metformin on regulating BAT thermogenic activity to ameliorate complications linked with obesity. The summarized evidence suggests that metformin can reduce body weight, enhance insulin sensitivity, and improve glucose metabolism by promoting BAT thermogenic activity in preclinical models of obesity. Notably, this anti-diabetic agent can affect the expression of major thermogenic transcriptional factors such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α) to improve BAT mitochondrial function and promote energy expenditure. Interestingly, vital molecular markers involved in glucose metabolism and energy regulation such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) are similarly upregulated by metformin treatment in preclinical models of obesity. The current review also discusses the clinical relevance of BAT and thermogenesis as therapeutic targets. This review explored critical components including effective dosage and appropriate intervention period, consistent with the beneficial effects of metformin against obesity-associated complications.

Clinical Impact of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Analogs on the Complications of Obesity

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a chronic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to its complications. The aims of obesity treatment are primarily to accomplish weight loss, and prevention or treatment of its complications. Lifestyle changes along with behavioral therapy constitute the first-line treatment of obesity followed by pharmacotherapy. Glucagon-like peptide receptor analogs (GLP-1 RAs) are among the approved pharmacotherapy options. Their central effect on suppressing appetite results in considerable weight loss. However, their effect on the complications of obesity has not been very well recognized. This review aims to analyze the effects of GLP-1 RAs on the complications of obesity, as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cardiovascular diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), osteoarthritis, cancer and central nervous system problems.

SUMMARY

Data from preclinical studies and clinical trials have been thoroughly evaluated. Effects regarding the complications as far as the scope of this review have covered can be summarized as blood glucose lowering, blood pressure lowering, resolution of NASH, improving major cardiovascular events, improving fertility and sex hormone levels, and improvement in OSA symptoms and in cognitive scores. Although the mechanisms are not fully elucidated, it is clear that the effects are not solely due to weight loss, but some pleiotropic effects like decreased inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis also play a role in some of the complications.

KEY MESSAGES

Treating obesity is not only enabling weight loss but ameliorating complications related to obesity. Thus, any antiobesity medication has to have some favorable effects on the complications. As far as the GLP-RA's analogs are concerned, there seems to be an improvement in many of the complications regardless of the weight loss effect of these medications.

A novel anti-obesity mechanism for liraglutide by improving adipose tissue leptin resistance in high-fat diet-fed obese mice

Liraglutide has been approved for the treatment of obesity in the past few years. Both oxidative stress and leptin resistance are the critical drivers of obesity. The present study investigated the mechanism of liraglutide protection against obesity by ameliorating leptin resistance and oxidative stress. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and subcutaneously injected with 200 μg/kg/d liraglutide for 20 weeks. Body weight, fat mass, serum levels of leptin, insulin, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured. In addition, glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed. The expressions of leptin, its signaling genes, and antioxidant enzymes were detected using RT-qPCR and western blot methods in liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice. The results depicted that liraglutide treatment significantly slowed weight gain of body, reduced the fat mass, ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolism, and hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed obese mice. Further study demonstrated that liraglutide treatment resulted in decreased serum levels and the transcript levels of leptin as well as leptin signaling inhibitory regulators. However, it increased leptin receptor expression and the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in WAT (p < 0.05). In addition, the antioxidant enzyme expression was elevated in both liver and WAT of liraglutide-treated mice (p < 0.05). In conclusion, liraglutide conspicuously prevented obesity and ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolism in obese mice through a novel mechanism that improves peripheral leptin resistance in WAT and enhance the antioxidant enzyme expression in both liver and WAT.

Therapeutic Potential of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: From Current Clinical Evidence to Future Perspectives

Despite the continuous effort to understand the pathophysiology and determine potential therapeutic targets, PCOS treatment largely depends on lifestyle intervention and symptomatic management of individual signs and symptoms. International guidelines recognize the importance of weight reduction as a cornerstone for the achievement of better metabolic, reproductive, and cardiovascular outcomes in PCOS women who are overweight or obese. With its profound weight loss potential in patients with or without diabetes, the administration of GLP-1 receptor agonists has been investigated in overweight/obese women with PCOS in several single-center randomized control trials with considerable variation in the dosing regimen, follow-up duration, and outcome measurements over recent years. Most trials reported superior weight loss effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists compared to lifestyle changes or metformin, with additional metabolic, reproductive, and cardiovascular benefits in this population. However, their use is currently not widely accepted by the clinical community that treats this population. The major concern is how to balance the reproductive and metabolic treatment strategies since the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists requires effective contraception while on therapy and a washout period before pregnancy. Both approaches are not mutually exclusive, yet the best choice requires a careful assessment of the clinical context. Knowing a patient’s individual circumstances, precise clinical sub-phenotyping, and regular monitoring are crucial components for the safe and effective use of these new tools. In the present narrative review, we explore the current clinical evidence and provide the future perspectives and challenges for their implementation in PCOS management.

Bioactive anti-inflammatory antibacterial metformin-contained hydrogel dressing accelerating wound healing

Highly efficient wound healing and skin regeneration remain a challenge. Long-term inflammation and bacterial infection can inhibit the healing process and lead to the scar formation. Here, we report a hydrogel (FEM) formed by self-assembly of ε-poly-l-lysine-F127-ε-poly-l-lysine (EPL-F127-EPL) and metformin for wound repair. Especially, the role of metformin-based antibacterial hydrogel in wound healing and repair was investigated for the first time. FEM has inherent multifunctional properties, including controlled metformin release, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity, temperature responsiveness, injectable and self-healing capabilities. The in vivo results showed that FEM dressings accelerated the wound healing by stimulating the angiogenesis process of the wound tissue and anti-inflammation. This study shows that the multifunctional metformin-contained hydrogel scaffolds could enhance the wound repair through the anti-inflammation and accelerated angiogenesis, which could also expand the biomedical applications of metformin-based biomaterials.

Mitochondrial Sirtuins in Reproduction

Mitochondria act as hubs of numerous metabolic pathways. Mitochondrial dysfunctions contribute to altering the redox balance and predispose to aging and metabolic alterations. The sirtuin family is composed of seven members and three of them, SIRT3-5, are housed in mitochondria. They catalyze NAD+-dependent deacylation and the ADP-ribosylation of mitochondrial proteins, thereby modulating gene expression and activities of enzymes involved in oxidative metabolism and stress responses. In this context, mitochondrial sirtuins (mtSIRTs) act in synergistic or antagonistic manners to protect from aging and aging-related metabolic abnormalities. In this review, we focus on the role of mtSIRTs in the biological competence of reproductive cells, organs, and embryos. Most studies are focused on SIRT3 in female reproduction, providing evidence that SIRT3 improves the competence of oocytes in humans and animal models. Moreover, SIRT3 protects oocytes, early embryos, and ovaries against stress conditions. The relationship between derangement of SIRT3 signaling and the imbalance of ROS and antioxidant defenses in testes has also been demonstrated. Very little is known about SIRT4 and SIRT5 functions in the reproductive system. The final goal of this work is to understand whether sirtuin-based signaling may be taken into account as potential targets for therapeutic applications in female and male infertility.