Effects of Metformin on TSH Levels and Benign Nodular Goiter Volume in Patients Without Insulin Resistance or Iodine Insufficiency

• Main Authors: Patricia Borges dos Santos, Larissa Nascimento Gertrudes, Flavia Lucia Conceição, Bruno Moulin de Andrade, Denise Pires de Carvalho, Mario Vaisman, Patricia de Fatima dos Santos Teixeira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Endocrinology
• Subjects: benign thyroid nodule; thyroid nodules volume; thyroid volume; metformin; insulin resistance; TSH
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fendo.2019.00465/full

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of metformin (MTF) use on TSH levels, thyroid volume and volume of benign thyroid nodules (TNs). Additionally, to study if iodine status influences the outcomes.Methods: A total of 23 euthyroid patients (42 TNs) with benign thyroid nodules, diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy, were randomly assigned to MTF or placebo (P) use for 6 months. Serum TSH, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) were assessed. Ultrasound was used to evaluate TNs and thyroid volumes (TV) and their variations throughout the study. Diabetic patients, those undergoing levothyroxine replacement, and/or using thyroid- or insulin level-influencing drugs were excluded.Results: The sample consisted predominantly of patients without IR. Both intervention groups were similar regarding several confounding variables and showed a comparable median UIC. Serum TSH decreased significantly after MTF (−0.21 vs. 0.09 mUI/L in the P group; p = 0.015). At 6 months, no significant variations were found between groups with respect to TN volumes, TV, HOMA-IR, or body mass index (BMI). However, a tendency toward enlargement of TV with placebo (16.0%; p = 0.09) and a protective effect of MTF on growing TN (OR: 0.25; CI 0.05–1.20) was detected after excluding patients with IR (a lower UIC subgroup). The reduction on TSH levels with MTF maintained in the population without iodine insufficiency (−0.24 vs. +0.07 in the P group; p = 0.046) and was accentuated in those with excessive or more than adequate UIC (−0.69; p = 0.043). A protective effect of MTF on growing TN was suggested (OR: 0.11; IC: 0.02–0.84) in those with higher UIC.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that MTF caused a reduction in TSH levels in benign nodular goiter. This effect was more accentuated in patients with higher levels of UIC and was accompanied by a suggested protective effect on TN enlargement.