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Physical exercise and metformin in gestational obesity and prevention on gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives:

identify the action of metformin and physical activities to reduce weight gain and prevent mellitus diabetes in obese pregnant women.

Methods:

the electronic search was performed in PubMed / MEDLINE, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane library databases between 2008 and 2018. The selection took place between April and July 2018, through the descriptors "pregnancy, obesity, metformin, treatment, exercise". A protocol was programmed and consecutively a selective research on the inclusion / exclusion phase. The "PICO" strategy was used. Population: obese pregnant women. Intervention: physical exercises and metformin. Control: The main indicator established was therapeutic outcomes with physical activity and metformin. Outcome of interest: body weight control.

Results:

by selecting the database, 3,983 articles were identified on the topic of interest. After selecting and eligibility, only 16 scientific studies were selected, of which 81.25% were clinical trials related to diet programs, physical activity, metformin use and possible outcomes, 18.75% were prospective cohort on causes of obesity in gestation and its association with gestational mellitus diabetes and preventive therapies. The study pointed out the possibility of adapting physical therapy programs with the correct metformin dosage for a greater control in gestational weight gain. However, there is a need for greater awareness and changes in habits for obese woman during the gestational period.

Conclusions:

the drug presents similarity to physical activity by activating AMPK and may be added to treatments that propose changes in pregnant women’s lifestyle to reduce weight gain and prevent gestational diabetes mellitus with a better understanding of the optimal dosage. Thus, the study suggests the use of metformin is not only for the prevention and the intercurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus, but a strictly careful investigation allowing its use to non-diabetic obese pregnant women.

Key words:
Pregnancy; Obesity; Metformin; Treatment; Exercise

Resumo

Objetivos:

identificar a ação da metformina e da atividade física para redução do ganho de peso e prevenção do diabetes mellitus em gestantes obesas.

Métodos:

a busca eletrônica foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus e biblioteca Cochrane entre 2008 e 2018. A seleção ocorreu entre abril e julho de 2018, através dos descritores “gravidez, obesidade, metformina, tratamento, exercício”. Programou-se um protocolo e consecutivamente uma etapa seletiva de inclusão/exclusão das pesquisas. Utilizou-se a estratégia "PICO". População: gestantes obesas. Intervenção: exercícios fisicos e metformina. Controle: o principal comparador estabelecido foi o desfecho terapêutico com atividade fisica e metformina. Desfecho de interesse: controle do peso corporal.

Resultados:

através da seleção do banco de dados, 3.983 artigos foram identificados sobre o tema de interesse. Após as etapas de seleção e elegibilidade, apenas 16 estudos científicos foram selecionados, dos quais 81,25% ensaios clinicos referentes aos programas de dieta, atividade física, uso da metformina e possíveis desfechos, 18,75% coorte prospectiva sobre as causas da obesidade na gestação e sua associação com o diabetes mellitus gestacional e terapêutica preventiva. O estudo apontou a possibilidade de se adequar programas de terapias físicas com a dosagem correta de metformina para um maior controle no ganho de peso gestacional. No entanto, existe a necessidade de uma maior concientização e mudanças de hábitos da mulher obesa durante o período gestacional.

Conclusões:

a droga apresenta semelhança com a atividade física ao ativar o AMPK e pode somar aos tratamentos que propõem mudanças no estilo de vida das gestantes para reduzir o ganho de peso e prevenir o diabetes mellitus gestacional com a necessidade de um melhor entendimento sobre a dosagem ideal. Desta forma, o estudo sugere que o uso da metformina não seja apenas para prevenção e intercorrências do DMG, mas também com uma investigação estritamente cuidadosa para possibilitar o seu uso em grávidas obesas não diabéticas.

Palavras-chave:
Gravidez; Obesidade; Metformina; Tratamento; Exercício

Introduction

The association between obesity and different pathologies have been arising concerns in the world scenrio.11 NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), Cesare MD, Bentham J, Stevens GA, Bentham J, Zhou B, Danaei G, Lu Y, Bixby H, Cowan MJ, Riley LM, Hajifathalian K, Fortunato L, Taddei C, Bennett JE, Ikeda N, Khang YH, Kyobutungi C, Laxmaiah A, Li Y, Lin HH& 31 others. Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014 : a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19 2 million 62. Lancet. 2016; 387(10026):1377-96. In Brazil, the negative impact on the incidence of obesity and diseases are already known in publications, having among others, metabolic and endocrine disorders, hypertension, diabetes and certain types of cancer.22 Correia LL, Silveira DMJ, Silva AC, Campos JS, Machado MM, Rocha HAL. Cunha AJLA, Lindsay AC. Prevalência e determinantes de obesidade e sobrepeso em mulheres em idade reprodutiva residentes na região semiárida do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2011; 16: 133-45.,33 Vernini JM, Moreli JB, Magalhães CG, Costa RAA, Rudge MVC, Calderon IMP. Maternal and fetal outcomes in preg-nancies complicated by overweight and obesity. Reprod Health. 2016; 13: 100.

Under specific pregnancy conditions, there are multifactorial causes that lead to obesity, and it is associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)22 Correia LL, Silveira DMJ, Silva AC, Campos JS, Machado MM, Rocha HAL. Cunha AJLA, Lindsay AC. Prevalência e determinantes de obesidade e sobrepeso em mulheres em idade reprodutiva residentes na região semiárida do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2011; 16: 133-45.,33 Vernini JM, Moreli JB, Magalhães CG, Costa RAA, Rudge MVC, Calderon IMP. Maternal and fetal outcomes in preg-nancies complicated by overweight and obesity. Reprod Health. 2016; 13: 100. Among the metabolic problems in pregnancy, GDM is characterized as the most common, with an incidence of 25% of the pregnancies, taking into account the criteria on applied diagnosis, the studied population and ethnic group.44 Oliveira JEP, Vencio S. Diretrizes da Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes São Paulo: A.C. Farmacêutica; 2016. GDM increases as gestational obesity does as well.55 Fattah EAAE. Can metformin limit weight gain in the obese with pregnancy ? Int J Reprod Contraception Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 5 (3): 818-25

However, the lack of overweight and obesity control before and during pregnancy requires more efficient means to manage weight gain during the gestational trimesters, prevention on neonatal outcomes and childhood obesity.66 Ross MG, Desai M. Developmental Programming of Offspring Obesity, Adipogenesis, and Appetite. Clin Obs Gynecol. 2013; 56 (3): 529-36. Among the main therapeutic methods for obesity and GDM control are physical activity programs and restricted eating habits.77 Kampmann U, Madsen LR, Skajaa GO, Iversen DS, Moeller N. Ovesen P. Gestational diabetes: a clinical update. WJD. 2015; 6 (8): 1065-72.

Due to the low adherence of patients to dietary programs, there is no showing of significant reduction in obese pregnant women’s weight and in the incidence of GDM,88 Koivusalo SB, Rono K, Klemetti MM, Roine RP, Lindstrom J, Erkkola M, Kaaja RJ, Pöyhönen-Alho M, Tiitinen A, Huvinen E, Andersson S, Laivuori H, Valkama A, Meinilä J, Kautiainen H, Eriksson JG, Stach-Lempinen B. Gestational diabetes mellitus can be prevented by lifestyle intervention: the finnish gestational diabetes prevention study (RADIEL): a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2016; 39: 24-30. as well as physical activity programs, since specialists have identified the difficulties and the need of greater awareness on preg-nant women to reduce gestational obesity and GDM outcomes.55 Fattah EAAE. Can metformin limit weight gain in the obese with pregnancy ? Int J Reprod Contraception Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 5 (3): 818-25,99 Hayes L, Mcparlin C, Kinnunen TI, Posto L, Robson SC, Bell, R. Change in level of physical activity during pregnancy in obese women: findings from the UPBEAT pilot trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015; 15: 1-8.,1010 Asbee SM, Jenkins TR, Butler JR, White J, Elliot M, Rutledge A. Preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy through dietary and lifestyle counseling: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2009; 113 (2): 305-12.

Oral antidiabetic of metformin hydrochloride has provided significant results in gestational obesity which is one of the primary causes of GDM. However, the use of metformin during pregnancy is controversial, although it is safe to use the drug, but the lack of long-term data requires more studies and cautious prescriptions.1111 Ferreira CB, Cesaretti ML, Ginoza M, Kohlmann Jr. O. Efeitos da administração de metformina sobre a pressão arterial e o metabolismo glicídico de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos tornados obesos pela injeção neonatal de glutamato monossódico. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2009;53(4):409-15. The combination of the drug with physical activity programs and changes in the pregnant woman's behavior, shows efficacy for obesity and GDM.55 Fattah EAAE. Can metformin limit weight gain in the obese with pregnancy ? Int J Reprod Contraception Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 5 (3): 818-25 The drug has been demonstrating positive outcomes by improving glycemic abnormalities and blood pressure levels. It also has been used in obese pregnant women with GDM and effective in decreasing body mass index (BMI).1212 Gray SG, McGuire T, Cohen N, Little PJ. The emerging role of Metformin in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2017; 19 (6): 765-72. Prevention is one of the key aspects in the fight against outcomes resulting in increased body weight on pregnant woman, incidence of GDM and intercurrence. Therefore, therapies with metformin, its different dosages and results, suggest possibilities of associating it with physical therapies in a greater perspective to improve pregnant women’s quality of life, and so the procedures and resources for gestational obesity prophylaxis and GDM are still obstacles to overcome in the obstetric scenario.55 Fattah EAAE. Can metformin limit weight gain in the obese with pregnancy ? Int J Reprod Contraception Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 5 (3): 818-25,99 Hayes L, Mcparlin C, Kinnunen TI, Posto L, Robson SC, Bell, R. Change in level of physical activity during pregnancy in obese women: findings from the UPBEAT pilot trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015; 15: 1-8.,1111 Ferreira CB, Cesaretti ML, Ginoza M, Kohlmann Jr. O. Efeitos da administração de metformina sobre a pressão arterial e o metabolismo glicídico de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos tornados obesos pela injeção neonatal de glutamato monossódico. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2009;53(4):409-15.,1313 Fonseca MR, Laurenti R, Marin CR, Traldi MC. Ganho de pesogestacional e peso ao nascer do concepto: estudo transversal na região de Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2014; 19: 1401-7. However, this study aims to identify the action of metformin and physical activity to reduce weight gain and prevent GDM in obese pregnant women

Methods

A systematic literature review was carried out between 2008 and 2018, and the selection was between April and June 2018. A protocol was developed involving an assessment report with different scientific studies. In this organization, the 27 esta-blished items from PRISMA checklist were used.1414 Galvão TF, Pansani TSA, Harrad, D. Principais itens para relatar Revisões sistemáticas e Meta-análises: A recomendação PRISMA. Epidemiol. 2015; 24 (2): 234-42.

Eligibility criteria

In literary research, the "PICO" strategy was applied. Population: obese pregnant women. Intervention: physical exercises and metformin. Control: the main indicator established was therapeutic outcomes with physical activity and metformin. Outcome of interest: Body weight control. The preference was researches with results on metabolic action caused by physical activity programs and also results on pharmacokinetic action of metformin hydrochloride. Afterwards, a search on preventive action about physical activity, a drug for GDM and gestational obesity. A priority search was for studies on randomized clinical trials with the use of physical activities and metformin hydrochloride during pregnancy. However, non-randomized researches of greater importance to our purposes could be selected in the flowchart, as long as they were consistent with the topic addressed in this research. Such as among others: prospective, retrospective, case control and cross-sectional cohort studies. Clinical laboratory studies, systematic reviews and epidemiological studies were excluded from the qualitative selection and / or the selection in the flowchart.

The flowchart was organized during the search for scientific publications source through a flow diagram with languages in Portuguese, English or Spanish. The keywords were chosen according to the Health Science Descriptors of the Lilacs Virtual Health Library (DeCS) and the respective publication dates from 2008, in the PubMed/MEDLINE databases, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Web of Science, Scopus, with the descriptors “pregnancy, obesity, metformin, treatment, exercise”associated with Boolean operators“AND” and “OR”, with the purpose of achieving more adherent studies to the proposed theme. The population consisted of studies in the literature containing their methods samples with pregnant women who performed different exercise programs during pregnancy and researches that used metformin hydrochloride for preventive treatments for obesity and GDM.

Key word searches on different sites:

PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Web of Science e Scopus “pregnancy” AND “obesity” AND “metformin” AND “treatment” ; “pregnancy ”AND “obesity” AND “metformin” AND “exercise”; “pregnancy ”AND “obesity” AND“treatment”; “pregnancy ”AND “obesity” AND “exercise” ; “obesity” AND “metformin” AND “treatment”; “obesity” AND “metformin” AND “exercise”. “pregnancy” OR “obesity” OR “metformin” OR “treatment”; “pregnancy ”OR “obesity” OR “metformin” OR “exercise” “pregnancy” OR “obesity” OR “metformin”; “obesity” OR “metformin” OR “treatment”; “obesity” OR “metformin” “exercise”.

Study Selection and data extraction

From the acquisition of the journals, three authors set aside relevant data. It is worth noting that if there was any unclear information or due to the lack of data on the characteristics in the trials, the main authors of the studies would be contacted for further clarification. The referential selection process for systematic reviews in electronic data-bases followed the following steps: identification, selection, eligibility and inclusion, according to PRISMA1414 Galvão TF, Pansani TSA, Harrad, D. Principais itens para relatar Revisões sistemáticas e Meta-análises: A recomendação PRISMA. Epidemiol. 2015; 24 (2): 234-42. (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Diagram on bibliographic search adapted from PRISMA in the selection process (2008-2018).

Exclusion criteria: repeated work on different search sites; reading of titles and abstracts not consistent with therapies with the use of metformin or with physical activity programs during pregnancy; methodological analysis with unaccomplished criteria, few details in the method section and no scientific record and exclusion by objectives, in other words, there is no consensus among purpose, method, conclusion and, concomitantly, studies with few correlations related to the objective of the present research .

Inclusion criteria: the population of interest should be obese pregnant women aged 16 years or older. The outcome of interest was to identify the effectiveness of therapies on the pregnant woman's body weight. The researchers have compared studies with therapies related to physical activity and studies with the use of metformin hydrochloride. Randomized controlled studies or clinical trials only had primary order in the selection. However, it was possible to include other studies in the qualitative analysis as long as they were of total relevance to our objectives, allowing the inclusion of cohort studies, case control, and cross-section.

The investigators independently assessed the risk of bias using the criteria described in the subsequent item. Three authors (Nascimento IB, Fleig R and Souza MLR) searched and / or selected the studies and if there was doubt among two or more studies, a fourth member of the group would have to do the analysis with the pre-established methodological parameters and strategies and, the choice, should be by consensus of the 4 authors. Subsequently, it was decided to develop a table with only clinical trial studies, which was the main objective of the search in qualitative analysis, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1
Specific characteristics of clinical trial studies (2008-2018).

Bias assessment and methodological quality in different studies

The clinical trials studies used the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions guidelines (Version 5.1.0).1515 Higgins JPT, Sally G. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventios. 5.1.0.; 2011.[acesso em 14 jun 2018]. Disponível em: http://handbook-5-1.cochrane.org/
http://handbook-5-1.cochrane.org/...
An adaptation of the tool was carry out considering the results as follows: the bias level corresponding to the domain (1) (selection) Generation of the random sequence, (2) (Selection) Concealment of allocation, (3) (perfor-mance) Blinding of participants and professionals, (4) (detection) Blinding of outcome evaluators, (5) (attrition) Incomplete outcomes, (6) (report) Selective outcome report, (7) (other bias), in other words, other sources of bias were considered: the tendentiousness of the collections, data analysis, the existence or not of impartiality in the researchers' choice of criteria.

Subsequently, the characteristics of the population were identified in different articles. Attempts were made to find the confounding effects on the outcomes obtained, such as gestational ages (GA) of entry in the research, treatment in the use of dosages of metformin, the design and comparison of patients’ clinical characteristics included in each study and, subsequently, metformin administration period in the intervention groups. Consecutively, the search for recent statistical values with the highest impacts in comparation to with other previous results. At this moment, metformin was assessed in researches and physical activity programs, mainly in hospitals with multidisciplinary teams in order to verify the interactivity among professionals.

In other types of studies, the bias was assessed by an adaptation of the Downs and Black scale.1616 Downs SH, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Commun Health. 1998; 52: 377-84. The authors observed a clear description of the factors in the checklist contained in the scale. It is worth noting that the Downs and Black scale assesses studies not related to randomized clinical trials; contains 27 questions / items applicable to assess the quality and bias of articles. It was organized as follows: each study group obtained a specific score; cohort articles with a maximum score of 22; cross-sectional studies with a maximum of 12 points and for case-control studies a maximum score of 27 points. To guarantee the proportion of the results among categories, the score obtained in each article was divided by the maximum possible score for each of the established groups. The study to reach the inclusion criterion should achieve a score above 70% in the established score. Interventions and assessed outcomes:

  • Physical activity programs, gene regulation and outcomes;

  • Metformin, gene regulation and outcomes.

Results

The scientific studies that participated in this systematic review were found between the years (2000-2017). Through the selection of the database, 3,983 articles were identified on the topic of interest. After removing 2,307 duplicate articles, 1,676 articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish were obtained for the analysis. Consecutively, a verification on the most comprehensive titles and abstracts: 774 articles were eliminated, resulting in 902 articles in the first stage of the study and eligibility for the second stage on the systematic review. Of the 902 studies analyzed in full, 886 were excluded, in Figure 1 shows more detailed reasons.

In this present systematic review, after applying the selection consistent with the criteria mentioned above, 16 scientific studies were obtained for inclusion,of which 81.25% (n=13) were clinical trials regarding diet programs, physical activity, use of metformin and possible outcomes (Table 1); 18.75% (n=3) were cohort on the causes of obesity during pregnancy and its association with GDM and preventive therapies.

Using the manual for interventions on systematic reviews, 13 studies on clinical practices were obtained, of which 8 (61.53%) studies had a low risk of bias and 5 (38.46%) had a moderate risk of bias.

Concerning other types of studies, absolute and relative values were observed in the Downs and Black scale.The score and the absolute and relative numbers were presented as follows: The results of this review found three cohort studies with the pre-established purpose and greater relation to the theme, 16/22 (72.72%),33 Vernini JM, Moreli JB, Magalhães CG, Costa RAA, Rudge MVC, Calderon IMP. Maternal and fetal outcomes in preg-nancies complicated by overweight and obesity. Reprod Health. 2016; 13: 100. 18/22 (81.81%)55 Fattah EAAE. Can metformin limit weight gain in the obese with pregnancy ? Int J Reprod Contraception Obstet Gynecol. 2016; 5 (3): 818-25 and 16/22 (72.72%).1111 Ferreira CB, Cesaretti ML, Ginoza M, Kohlmann Jr. O. Efeitos da administração de metformina sobre a pressão arterial e o metabolismo glicídico de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos tornados obesos pela injeção neonatal de glutamato monossódico. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2009;53(4):409-15. The absolute and relative numbers found were at least 72.72% and at most 81.81%, indicating an mean score of 75.75%.

In regard to treatment and prevention of GDM, the present study identified a difference of 1.21 less glucose two hours (2HPG) in the postprandial period in patients in the metformin group compared to the group that administered insulin and a greater acceptance for metformin hydrochloride in comparation to those who used insulin, and a 49.4% difference between the two groups. In non-diabetic obese pregnant women, scientific findings demonstrated that pregnant women who administered metformin, the average weight gain reduction was 1.7 kg less compared to the placebo group and reduced chances for the incidence of preeclampsia of (0.24; CI95%=0.10-0.61) (p<0.01).

The results showed that physical activity and food programs for obese pregnant women have not demonstrated values of greater significance. However, there is a need for greater awareness and changes in habits of obese women during the gestational period. Scientific publications have been showing the effects of the pharmacokinetic action of metformin hydrochloride with greater control on gestational weight gain, as well as the need for further research on the dosage and / or regarding the use of the drug. Contemporary studies are necessary, with the possibility of primary therapies aiming to change lifestyles combined with specific metformin dosages at pregnancy, since there is a similarity between both methods in activating the protein kinase enzyme activated by adenosine monophosphate (AMPK).

Discussion

Physical activity and gene regulation programs

Obesity is strongly related to the increased risk of pathologies, among them are dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and insulin resistance.1717 Jung U, Choi M-S. Obesity and Its Metabolic Complications: The Role of Adipokines and the Relationship between Obesity, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2014; 15 (4): 6184-223. There is a difficulty in carrying out refined treatment methods to adapt obese pregnant women to the ideal weight parameters during pregnancy.1818 Maffeis C, Morandi A. Effect of Maternal Obesity on Foetal Growth and Metabolic Health of the Offspring. Obes Facts. 2017;10(2):112-7.

Among the most recommended therapeutic methods for obesity during pregnancy and possible unfavorable outcomes are physical activity and nutritional programs. Physical activity can activate AMPK and reduce conversions of “aglicanos” compounds.1919 Pacheco C, dos Santos LHP, Alves JO, de Queiroz AN, Soares PM, Ceccatto VM. Regulação gênica da via AMPK pelo exercício físico: Revisão sistemática e análise in silico. Rev Bras Med do Esporte. 2017; 23 (4): 328-34.

A recent study showed that pregnant women who followed the guidelines on physical activities and diet composition altered gene expression that relates to fatty acid transport. Active women had lower expression of fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4).2020 Brett K E; Ferraro Z M; Holcik M; Adamo KB.Prenatal physical activity and diet composition affect the expression of nutrient transporters and mTOR signaling molecules in the human placenta. Placenta. 2015; 36 (2): 204-12. The study also revealed a strong positive correlation between total sugar consumption and glucose transport 1 (GLUT1) (p<0.001).

Variations in maternal physical activity and diet composition altered the expression of genes involved in the transport of fatty acids, amino acids, glucose and signaling of the target rapamicide factor (mTOR), which regulates energy in the intracellular space.1919 Pacheco C, dos Santos LHP, Alves JO, de Queiroz AN, Soares PM, Ceccatto VM. Regulação gênica da via AMPK pelo exercício físico: Revisão sistemática e análise in silico. Rev Bras Med do Esporte. 2017; 23 (4): 328-34. Physical activity activates AMPK in several ways and in different routes. In order to reduce gluconeogenesis, physical exercise increases the consumption of glucose by the organism and, subsequently, there is a negative regulation of the genes encoded in the MO25 protein.1919 Pacheco C, dos Santos LHP, Alves JO, de Queiroz AN, Soares PM, Ceccatto VM. Regulação gênica da via AMPK pelo exercício físico: Revisão sistemática e análise in silico. Rev Bras Med do Esporte. 2017; 23 (4): 328-34. When the MO25 protein is suppressed, there is a positive regulation of the AMPK coding genes that activates the regulatory CREB protein 2 (TORC2) transducer, which has the function of controlling protein activities and inhibiting liver conversions of “aglicanos” compounds (pyruvate), reducing gluconeogenesis.1919 Pacheco C, dos Santos LHP, Alves JO, de Queiroz AN, Soares PM, Ceccatto VM. Regulação gênica da via AMPK pelo exercício físico: Revisão sistemática e análise in silico. Rev Bras Med do Esporte. 2017; 23 (4): 328-34.

Metformin, gene regulation and outcomes

Due to the close relation between obesity and GDM, prevention on both is of utmost importance in order to reduce immediate adverse pregnancy results, complications, risks in childbirth and costs directed to the treatment of GDM.2121 Chiswick CA, Reynolds RM, Denison FC, Whyte SA, Drake AJ, Newby DE. Efficacy of metformin in pregnant obese women: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2015;5(1):1110.

Metformin has been used for gestational obesity and the prevention of GDM.2222 Salles WB, Nascimento IBD, Dienstermann S, Souza MLR, Silva GDD, Silva JC. Effectiveness of Metformin in the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Obese Pregnant Women Efetividade da metformina na prevenção do diabetes mellitus gestacional em gestantes obesas. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018; 40 (4): 180-7. The strategy to prevent GDM can be added in a woman's lifestyle, nutritional interventions, physical activity programs and pharmacological measures.2323 Agha-jaffar R, Oliver N, Johnston D, Robinson S. Gestational diabetes mellitus: does an effective prevention strategy exist? Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2016; 12 (9): 1-14. As for the use of the drug in obese non-diabetic pregnant women, a study in 2017 showed a lower median weight gain when comparing metformin and placebo 4.6 (1.3 to 7.2) vs 6.3 (2.9 to 9.2) respectively and, in the outcomes of pre-eclampsia (PE), a reduced odds ratio for the metformin group (OR=0.24; CI95%=0.10-0.61) (p<0.01),2424 Syngelaki A, Nicolaides KH, Balani J, Hyer S, Akolekar R, Kotecha R, Pastides A, Shehata H. Metformin versus Placebo in Obese Pregnant Women without Diabetes Mellitus. N Engl J Med. 2016; 374 (1): 434-34. since PE has strong relation with gestational obesity and GDM.2525 Nascimento IB, Dienstemann, Souza MLR, Fleig R, Hoffmann CBPC, Silva JC. Avaliação dos resultados da pré-eclâmpsia após o uso da metformina na gestação: revisão sistemática e metanálise. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018;40(11):713-21.

The use of the drug has been shown to be effective in reducing plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin in patients with DM2.1313 Fonseca MR, Laurenti R, Marin CR, Traldi MC. Ganho de pesogestacional e peso ao nascer do concepto: estudo transversal na região de Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2014; 19: 1401-7. Another study comparing metformin with insulin decreased glucose two hours (2HPG) in the postprandial period in patients with DM2, identifying the values of (7.84 ± 1.43) in the metformin group versus (9.05 ± 1.89) in the insulin group (p=0.004) (p<0.01).2626 Beyuo T, Obed SA, Adjepong-Yamoah KK, Bugyei KA, Oppong SA, Marfoh K. Metformin versus insulin in the management of pre-gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital:A randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2015;10(5):1-10.

Metformin is seen as a safe drug used to control blood glucose, reduce BMI, cholesterol levels and fractions, and is not considered to be teratogenic.1313 Fonseca MR, Laurenti R, Marin CR, Traldi MC. Ganho de pesogestacional e peso ao nascer do concepto: estudo transversal na região de Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2014; 19: 1401-7.,2727 Arshad R, Kanpurwala MA, Karim N, Hassan JA. Effects of Diet and Metformin on placental morphology in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Pakistan J Med Sci. 2016; 32(6):1522-27. Intolerance to a drug is an important factor in its acceptance.2626 Beyuo T, Obed SA, Adjepong-Yamoah KK, Bugyei KA, Oppong SA, Marfoh K. Metformin versus insulin in the management of pre-gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital:A randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2015;10(5):1-10. A study showed better acceptance with the administration of metformin compared to insulin (76.6% vs 27.2%), respectively (p<0.01).2828 Rowan JA, Hague WM, Gao W, Battin MR, Moore MP. Metformin versus insulin for the treatment of gestational diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2008; 358 (19): 2003-15.

The drug appears to induce gene expression of the small nuclear orphan heterodimer receptor (SHP; NR0B2), which contains an active constituent for AMP activation via PK protein kinase (AMPK).2929 Kim Y D, Park KG, Lee YS, Park YY, Kim DK, Nedumaran B, et al. Metformin inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis through AMP- activated protein kinase-dependent regulation of the orphan nuclear receptor SHP. Diabetes. 2008; 57(2):306-14. Authors have made evident that the expression of the hepatocyte SHP gene can be induced by metformin inhibiting the activity of cholesterol metabolism mediated by the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha or by the encoded protein 2 (FoxA2) of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxokinase (PEPCK). Thus, the researchers observed that metformin, by inhibiting these nuclear factors by activating SHP and AMPK, reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis and the formation of lipids.2929 Kim Y D, Park KG, Lee YS, Park YY, Kim DK, Nedumaran B, et al. Metformin inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis through AMP- activated protein kinase-dependent regulation of the orphan nuclear receptor SHP. Diabetes. 2008; 57(2):306-14.

However, specialists express the need for extremely careful studies that improve the dosage to be applied according to its pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties during pregnancy, since there may be uncertainty about the use of the drug.3030 Barbour LA, Scifres C, Valent AM,Friedman JE, Buchanan TA, Coustan D, Aagaard K, Thornburg KL, Catalano PM, Galan HL, Hay WW Jr, Frias AE, Shankar K, Simmons RA, Moses RG, Sacks DA, Loeken MR. Acautionary response to SMFM statement: pharmacological treatment of gesta-tional diabetes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 219: 367.e1-367.e7

It can be highlighted as a limiting aspect in this research, the limited number of scientific researches with the use of metformin in obese non-diabetic pregnant women and the method on different studies, the absence of information about what was being used, both by the examiner and the examinee (double-blind). This way, they would reduce the expectations of pregnant women, as well as the consequences of the placebo effect. The strong point was the laboratory researches that focused on the balance of genetic signals that control gluconeogenesis, which comes to elucidate and add to a new perspective weight reduction in obese pregnant women and prevention of GDM. Studies are suggested with a larger number of pregnant women contemplating the double blind and with a domain more directed on gestational BMI and GDM from the administration of metformin.

Metformin has been gaining its autonomy with better acceptance by pregnant women. The drug is similar to physical activity when activating AMPK and, in an adjunctive way, it can be an important drug along with main treatments that propose changes in pregnant women’s lifestyle to reduce weight gain and prevent GDM, with a need to a better understanding of the ideal dosage. Thus, the study suggests that the use of metformin is not only for the prevention and complications of GDM, but also with a strictly careful investigation to allow its use to obese non-diabetic pregnant women.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    11 May 2020
  • Date of issue
    Jan-Mar 2020

History

  • Received
    19 Sept 2019
  • Reviewed
    17 Oct 2019
  • Accepted
    18 Dec 2019
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