Tier 4 — mechanistic

A clinical study on the short-term effect of berberine in comparison to metformin on the metabolic characteristics of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Wei W, Zhao H, Wang A, Sui M, Liang K, Deng H, Ma Y, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Guan Y
European journal of endocrinology 2012 166(1):99-105

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 22019891
DOI
10.1530/eje-11-0616
Funding
Funding was not established from the accessible source; this is not a declaration of no funding.
Competing interests
A complete competing-interest declaration was not available in the accessible source; no absence of conflicts is inferred.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized controlled human trial
ModelHuman participants; see population
Sample89 women; three arms
InterventionBerberine or metformin added to compound cyproterone acetate; placebo-plus-CPA control
Duration3 months
EndpointsMetabolic and hormonal measures; Menstrual or fertility outcomes; Tolerability

What the study showed, in plain terms

Selected body-composition, lipid and hormonal measures improved in this comparison. All arms also received hormonal treatment.

Key findings

  • Selected body-composition, lipid and hormonal measures improved in this comparison. All arms also received hormonal treatment.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Cointervention and short follow-up restrict attribution and generalization. See the 2026 integrity reappraisal before relying on PCOS efficacy claims.

Source detail: indexed abstract and bibliographic record; unavailable methods or disclosures are identified rather than assumed.

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Citation network

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Editorial review

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology