Metformin-Treatment Option for Social Impairment? An Open Clinical Trial to Elucidate the Effects of Metformin Treatment on Steroid Hormones and Social Behavior.

Background: Social behavior is mediated by steroid hormones, whereby various lines of evidence indicate that metformin might improve the symptoms of social withdrawal. This directly yields to the aim of the study to correlate the impact of metformin treatment on the potential alterations in steroid hormone homeostasis, which is ultimately impacting social behavior. Therefore, urinary samples of patients before and after treatment with metformin will be correlated to social behavior to elucidate potential changes in steroid hormone profiles and social behavior.

Hyperandrogenism? Increased 17, 20-Lyase Activity? A Metanalysis and Systematic Review of Altered Androgens in Boys and Girls with Autism.

There is increasing evidence that steroid hormone levels and, especially, androgen levels are elevated in autism. An overactivity of 17, 20-lyase with a higher production of the testosterone precursors dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione/androstenediol seems especially present in autism. An encompassing literature analysis was performed, searching for altered androgens in children with autism and using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.