Effect of glabridinon on insulin resistance, C-reactive protein and endothelial function in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome

In the present study 32 women with polycystic ovary syndrome were treated with glabridin ( 10 mu M) daily for 12 months. The results revealed a significant reduction in serum testosterone from 95.3 +/- 23.6 to 49.8 +/- 12.7 ng/dL and fasting insulin concentrations from 12.3 +/- 5.2 to 8.11 +/- 3.42 U/mL after glabridin treatment. It also leads to a marked improvement in insulin resistance indices and reduction in hirsutism score from 12.8 +/- 3.2 to 7.0 +/- 3.5. More interestingly, all the women reverted to regular menstrual cycles. The sex hormone-binding globulin level increased significantly from 23.1 +/- 5.6 to 52.5 +/- 15.8 nmol/L after glabridin treatment. The levels of serum hsCRP decreased from 0.32 +/- 0.08 to 0.06 +/- 0.01 mg/dL and that of endotheliumdependent vascular responses from 17.2 +/- 4.3 to 8.8 +/- 2.4% after glabridin treatment. Therefore, glabridin acts as a potent candidate for the improvement of insulin sensitivity and androgen production.