The effects of flutamide on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, hirsutism and gonadotropins in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

In this study, we evaluated metabolic changes and the effects of flutamide in 22 women with PCOS. Flutamide was administered for a 6-month period in a dose of 750 mg/day. The basal and after treatment body mass index, waist: hip ratio, blood glucose, insulin, lipids, Ferriman-Gallwey scoring (FGS), gonadotropins, testosterone, trasaminazed and glucose: insulin (G:I) ratio were measured. For comparison, ANOVA was used. The sixth month mean FGS was significantly lower than the basal values (18.5±7.4 and 12.5±4.5, P<0.01). The mean basal G:I ratio was 3.31±1.12 and 6.21±2.53 at the sixth month. The sixth month G:I ratio was significantly higher (P<0.001). The total and LDL-cholesterol were decreased by flutamide (from 144±23 to 123±23 and from 88±32 to 60±25 mg/dl respectively. P<0.02 and P<0.01), whereas, the HDL-cholesterol level was increased with flutamide (from 44.8±3.9 to 46.5±3.2 mg/dl and P<0.001). LH (from 14.7±6.7 to 8.4±3 mlU/ml), LH/FSH ratio (from 3.4±1.7 to 1.9±0.6), total testosterone (from 0.87±0.29 to 0.61±0.18 ng/ml) and free testosterone (from 4.29±1.18 to 2.14±0.9 pg/ml) were decreased by flutamide (P<0.05). Thus, we reached three conclusions:1-Flutamide may improve insulin insensitivity. 2-In PCOS, flutamide decreases total and LDL-cholesterol, and increases HDL-cholesterol. 3-Flutamide may improve the LH/FSH ratio and induce a decrease in testosterone.