The effects of metformin on inflammatory mediators in obese adolescents with insulin resistance: controlled randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To compare serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), before and after 3 months treatment with metformin in obese adolescents with insulin resistance (IR).

Design And Subjects: This was a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial of two groups of obese adolescents with IR, aged 9-18 years: a placebo group (n=14) and a metformin group (n=12) who received 500 mg metformin every 12 h for 3 months. Anthropometric and biochemical (metabolic and inflammatory cytokines) assessments were compared at the beginning and end of treatment.