Acupuncture or Metformin for Insulin Resistance in Women With PCOS (PIAII)

Acupuncture or Metformin for Insulin Resistance in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The hypothesis is that acupuncture is equally effective as metformin (both treatments combined with lifestyle management) in improving whole body glucose homeostasis in insulin resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and that both are superior to lifestyle management alone. The investigators hypothesize that acupuncture and metformin induce ovulation and improve hyperandrogenism, as well as health related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although equally effective (acupuncture and metformin), the investigators hypothesize that acupuncture is associated with less negative side-effects. The investigators also hypothesize that these treatments have the potential to restore epigenetic and molecular alterations in target tissues (endometrial-, adipose-, and skeletal muscle tissue) and thus have the potential to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Hyperandrogenism; Insulin Resistance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Lifestyle management; Device: Acupuncture; Drug: Metformin

Detailed Description

Specific Aims The purpose of the study is to perform a randomized controlled trial of women with PCOS, comparing the effectiveness of lifestyle management alone, and in combination with acupuncture or metformin treatment on whole body glucose homeostasis, with the ultimate goal to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Primary aim

1. To determine the clinical effectiveness of 4 months of 1) electroacupuncture + lifestyle management and 2) metformin + lifestyle management, compared to 3) lifestyle management only, for improvement of insulin sensitivity as measured by HOMA-IR, by the insulin response to glucose assessed by calculating the area under the curve (AUCinsulin) during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and by glucose regulation (assessed by analyzing Hba1c levels).

Secondary aims

1. To evaluate changes in secondary metabolic measures, including fasting insulin, c-peptide, glucose, and adipokines, calculation of HOMA-B (i.e. the Islet β-cell function) and the c-peptide index, assessment of the adipokines and lipid profile, body size and proportions and body fat distribution.
2. To determine changes in genome-wide gene expression and DNA methylation profiles related to insulin sensitivity in fat, muscle and endometrial tissue biopsies, and biomarkers in whole blood.
3. To evaluate endocrine measures including menstrual pattern and ovulation frequency, circulating hormones (sex steroids, AMH, gonadotropins), and excretion of metabolites of sex steroids in urine.
4. To determine changes in women's HRQoL, symptoms of anxiety and depression, dieting and eating patterns, and negative side-effects.
5. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the different treatments.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 303
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Elisabet Stener-Victorin, PhD; Phone Number: +46705643655; Email: elisabet.stener-victorin@ki.se
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Berit Legerstam, Study nurse; Phone Number: +46851773782; Email: berit.legerstam@karolinska.se

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing, China, 100871
    • Recruiting
    • Peking University
    • Contact: Jie Qiao, Professor; Phone Number: +8615611908108; Email: jie.qiao@263.net
    • Contact: Haolin Zhang, PhD; Phone Number: +8613911533466; Email: zoe@bjmu.edu.cn
• Sweden
  • Stockholm, Sweden, 17176
    • Recruiting
    • Karolinska University Hospital
    • Principal Investigator: Elisabet Stener-Victorin, PhD
    • Sub-Investigator: Angelica Linden-Hirschberg, Professor
    • Sub-Investigator: Sebastian Gidlöf, PhD
    • Contact: Liselott Blomberg, Study nurse; Phone Number: +46851773782; Email: liselott.blomberg@regionstockholm.se
    • Contact: Anna Cockin, Study nurse; Phone Number: +46851773782; Email: anna.cockin@regionstockholm.se

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria - women with PCOS:

1. Age 18 to 40 years
2. Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 to ≤40 given that 95% of all women with PCOS with a BMI ≥25 are insulin resistant (71,72).
3. PCOS diagnosis according to Rotterdam criteria 2003 (73), with at least two of the following three symptoms: Clinical signs of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism or acne); oligo/amenorrhea; and/or polycystic ovaries (PCOS). Hirsutism is defined as a self-reported Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) score ≥8 (≥5 Asian) (74,75). Acne is defined by a positive response to the question Do you have acne? Oligomenorrhea is defined as an intermenstrual interval >35 days and <8 menstrual bleedings in the past year. Amenorrhea as <3 cycles per year. PCO is defined by transvaginal ultrasound with ≥12 follicles 2-9 mm and/or ovarian volume ≥10 ml in one or both ovaries.
4. Willing to sign the consent form.

Inclusion criteria - controls:

Controls should have BMI >25 to <40, regular cycles with 28 days ± 2 days, and no signs of hyperandrogenism. They are excluded if they have menstrual irregularities, signs of hyperandrogenism (FG >4), or evidence of PCO morphology on ultrasound.

Exclusion criteria for all women

1. Age >40
2. Exclusion of other endocrine disorders such as non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (17-hydroxyprogesterone < 3nmol/L), androgen secreting tumors or suspected Cushing's syndrome.
3. Having known renal disease (creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min), hepatic insufficiency, autoimmune disorders or cancer.
4. Any acute condition with potential to alter renal function or cause tissue hypoxia.
5. Type I diabetes.
6. Pharmacological treatment (cortizon, antidepressant, other antidiabetic treatment such as insulin and acarbose, hormonal contraceptives, hormonal ovulation induction or other drugs judged by discretion of investigator) within 12 weeks. Depo Provera or similar within 6 months.
7. Hypersensitivity to metformin hydrochloride or to any of the excipients.
8. Blood pressure >160 / 100 mmHg
9. Pregnancy or breastfeeding the last 6 months
10. Acupuncture the last 2 months
11. Daily smoking and alcoholic intake
12. Language barrier or disabled person with reduced ability to understand the information given.

In total 50 controls will be matched at baseline (age, weight and BMI) to women with PCOS. Controls will undergo screening and baseline visit, but will not be randomized to any treatment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Lifestyle management; All women will receive lifestyle management instructions at the baseline visit, before randomization.	Other: Lifestyle management; All women will receive lifestyle management instructions at the baseline visit, before randomization. The lifestyle management involves one initial counselling session in connection with the baseline visit, which includes information about the importance of weight management, healthy diet and physical activity.
Active Comparator: Acupuncture + lifestyle management; Three treatment per week (4 weeks) and thereafter 2 times per week during 12 weeks.	Other: Lifestyle management; All women will receive lifestyle management instructions at the baseline visit, before randomization. The lifestyle management involves one initial counselling session in connection with the baseline visit, which includes information about the importance of weight management, healthy diet and physical activity.; Device: Acupuncture; Disposable, single-use, sterilized CE marked needles made of stainless steel, 0.25 x 30 mm and 0.30 x 40/50 mm will be inserted to a depth of 15-40 mm in segmental acupuncture points located in abdominal and leg muscles, with innervations corresponding to the ovaries and the pancreas. Two sets of acupuncture points will be alternated every second treatment.
Active Comparator: Metformin + lifestyle management; Oral metformin 500 mg three times daily, in total 1500 mg per day.	Other: Lifestyle management; All women will receive lifestyle management instructions at the baseline visit, before randomization. The lifestyle management involves one initial counselling session in connection with the baseline visit, which includes information about the importance of weight management, healthy diet and physical activity.; Drug: Metformin; Oral metformin 500 mg three times daily, in total 1500 mg per day. To reduce gastrointestinal side-effects of metformin, the dose will be slowly escalated starting with 500 mg daily during the first week, increasing to 500 mg twice per day during the second the week, and 500 mg three times daily, morning, lunch and dinner from the third week in total 16 weeks including the 3 weeks step-up phase (i.e. 4 months).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from baseline to after 4 months in HOMA-IR [fasting insulin (μU/mL) × fasting glucose (mmol/L)] / 22.5)	Changes from baseline to after 4 months of treatment in HOMA-IR [fasting insulin (μU/mL) × fasting glucose (mmol/L)] / 22.5) between 1) acupuncture + lifestyle management and 2) metformin + lifestyle management compared to 3) lifestyle management only.	4 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months of treatment in HbA1c	Changes from baseline to after 4 months of treatment in HbA1c between 1) acupuncture + lifestyle management and 2) metformin + lifestyle management compared to 3) lifestyle management only.	4 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months of treatment in insulin response to glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)	Changes from baseline to after 4 months of treatment in insulin response to glucose during the OGTT (AUC using the trapezoidal rule) between 1) acupuncture + lifestyle management and 2) metformin + lifestyle management compared to 3) lifestyle management only.	4 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment in secondary metabolic measures	Changes in secondary metabolic measures with calculation of e.g. HOMA-B	8 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment gene expression and DNA methylation profiles related to insulin sensitivity in fat, muscle and endometrial tissue biopsies, and biomarkers in whole blood.	Changes in mRNA gene expression and DNA methylation expression and biomarkers in whole blood.	8 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment in menstrual pattern.	Changes in menstrual pattern per month.	8 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment in circulating reproductive hormones.	Changes in circulating circulating reproductive hormones.	8 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment in women's HRQoL.	Changes in women's HRQoL measured with polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire (PCOSQ) and short form-36 (SF36) two validated questionnairs.	8 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment in women's symptoms of anxiety and depression.	Changes in women's symptoms of anxiety and depression measured with the self-reported version of the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale for Affective Syndromes (CPRS-S-A).	8 months
Changes from baseline to after 4 months and again 4 months after last treatment in women's dieting and eating patterns.	Changes in women's dieting and eating patterns assessed with Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21), and Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns-Revised (QEWP-R).	8 months
Cost-effectiveness of the different treatments throughout the study.	Cost-effectiveness of the different treatments by calculation of e.g. treatment visits, time for patient and with EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D).	8 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet
• Collaborators: Karolinska University Hospital; Peking University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elisabet Stener-Victorin, PhD, Karolinska Institutet

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Stener-Victorin E, Zhang H, Li R, Friden C, Li D, Wang W, Wang H, Chang C, Li S, Huo Z, Zhang H, Ji X, Linden-Hirschberg A, Qiao J. Acupuncture or metformin to improve insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol of a combined multinational cross sectional case-control study and a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2019 Jan 4;9(1):e024733. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024733.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 23, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 5, 2016
• First Posted (Estimated): January 6, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 9, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Acupuncture; Metformin; Glucose metabolism; Hba1c
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Neoplasms; Endocrine System Diseases; Disease; Ovarian Cysts; Cysts; Ovarian Diseases; Adnexal Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development; Disorders of Sex Development; Urogenital Abnormalities; Adrenogenital Syndrome; Congenital Abnormalities; Hyperinsulinism; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Genital Diseases, Female; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Hyperandrogenism; Syndrome; Insulin Resistance; Hypoglycemic Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Metformin
• Other Study ID Numbers: EudraCT: 2015-004250-18; 2015-004250-18 (EudraCT Number)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED