Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot
Background: Different lines of evidence imply that metformin could alter steroid hormone homeostasis and thereby improve social impairment. Here, we tried to correlate the impact of metformin treatment on alterations in steroid hormones and autism spectrum traits before versus after treatment with m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000309 |
| _version_ | 1797398509246218240 |
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| author | Benedikt Gasser Genevieve Escher Anca-Elena Calin Michael Deppeler Miriam Marchon Johann Kurz Markus Mohaupt |
| author_facet | Benedikt Gasser Genevieve Escher Anca-Elena Calin Michael Deppeler Miriam Marchon Johann Kurz Markus Mohaupt |
| author_sort | Benedikt Gasser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Different lines of evidence imply that metformin could alter steroid hormone homeostasis and thereby improve social impairment. Here, we tried to correlate the impact of metformin treatment on alterations in steroid hormones and autism spectrum traits before versus after treatment with metformin. Material & methods: Urine steroid hormones were measured using gas chromatography mass spectrometry in 12 male subjects (54.2 ± 9.1 years, 177.3 ± 4.1 cm, 80 ± 10.4 kg) and 7 female subjects (64.14 ± 18.0 years, 162.7 ± 4.1 cm, 76.1 ± 10.4 kg). Furthermore, a questionnaire on autism spectrum traits (Autism Spectrum Questionnaire]) was administered prior to and after metformin treatment. Results: Overall, a decrease of steroid hormones were detected, which were most pronounced in the metabolites of corticosterone, deoxycortisol, cortisol, as well as androgens. These remained after Bonferroni correction (three classes: glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, androgens). No effect on autism spectrum traits (social skills, attention switching skills, attention to detail skills, communication skills, imagination skills), was identified pre versus post metformin treatment. Discussion: The decreased steroid hormone levels are based on different mechanisms; one effect is likely via mitochondria, another effect via activated protein kinase prior to post treatment. The finding on autistic traits must be taxed as negative and do not directly provide an argument for using metformin in the treatment of autism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:26:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-975a7ed27ac14c77bba14a1da0e63ee3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-4976 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:26:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| spelling | doaj.art-975a7ed27ac14c77bba14a1da0e63ee32023-12-10T06:18:04ZengElsevierComprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology2666-49762023-11-0116100196Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilotBenedikt Gasser0Genevieve Escher1Anca-Elena Calin2Michael Deppeler3Miriam Marchon4Johann Kurz5Markus Mohaupt6Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division Sport and Exercise Medicine, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052, Basel, Switzerland; Corresponding author. Department of Sport, Movement and Health Division Sport and Exercise Medicine, University of Basel, Grosse Allee 6, CH-4052, Basel, Switzerland.Lindenhofgruppe, Teaching Hospital of Internal Medicine, Lindenhofgruppe, 3006, Berne, SwitzerlandDepartment of Biomedical Research, University Bern, SwitzerlandLindenhofgruppe, Teaching Hospital of Internal Medicine, Lindenhofgruppe, 3006, Berne, SwitzerlandLindenhofgruppe, Teaching Hospital of Internal Medicine, Lindenhofgruppe, 3006, Berne, SwitzerlandInterscience Research Collaboration, SwitzerlandLindenhofgruppe, Teaching Hospital of Internal Medicine, Lindenhofgruppe, 3006, Berne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Research, University Bern, SwitzerlandBackground: Different lines of evidence imply that metformin could alter steroid hormone homeostasis and thereby improve social impairment. Here, we tried to correlate the impact of metformin treatment on alterations in steroid hormones and autism spectrum traits before versus after treatment with metformin. Material & methods: Urine steroid hormones were measured using gas chromatography mass spectrometry in 12 male subjects (54.2 ± 9.1 years, 177.3 ± 4.1 cm, 80 ± 10.4 kg) and 7 female subjects (64.14 ± 18.0 years, 162.7 ± 4.1 cm, 76.1 ± 10.4 kg). Furthermore, a questionnaire on autism spectrum traits (Autism Spectrum Questionnaire]) was administered prior to and after metformin treatment. Results: Overall, a decrease of steroid hormones were detected, which were most pronounced in the metabolites of corticosterone, deoxycortisol, cortisol, as well as androgens. These remained after Bonferroni correction (three classes: glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, androgens). No effect on autism spectrum traits (social skills, attention switching skills, attention to detail skills, communication skills, imagination skills), was identified pre versus post metformin treatment. Discussion: The decreased steroid hormone levels are based on different mechanisms; one effect is likely via mitochondria, another effect via activated protein kinase prior to post treatment. The finding on autistic traits must be taxed as negative and do not directly provide an argument for using metformin in the treatment of autism.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000309Gas chromatographieMass spectrometry24h measurementsGlucocorticoidMineralocorticoidAndrogens |
| spellingShingle | Benedikt Gasser Genevieve Escher Anca-Elena Calin Michael Deppeler Miriam Marchon Johann Kurz Markus Mohaupt Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology Gas chromatographie Mass spectrometry 24h measurements Glucocorticoid Mineralocorticoid Androgens |
| title | Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot |
| title_full | Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot |
| title_fullStr | Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot |
| title_short | Are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin? First insights from a pilot |
| title_sort | are steroid hormones and autistic traits affected by metformin first insights from a pilot |
| topic | Gas chromatographie Mass spectrometry 24h measurements Glucocorticoid Mineralocorticoid Androgens |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000309 |
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