Diabetes Drug May Prevent Early Puberty in Young Girls

The diabetes drug metformin slows the onset of early puberty and reduces the risk of insulin resistance in girls at risk for both conditions, a Spanish study concludes.

"The findings indicate that we can slow down puberty. This is important, because when puberty is faster in girls, the appearance of menses occurs earlier, and this sequence of events may ultimately result in a shorter adult height," senior author Dr. Lourdes Ibanez, of the University of Barcelona, said in a prepared statement.

In addition, getting a first menstrual period before age 12 has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, and early puberty is a known risk factor for polycystic ovary syndrome, a common cause of infertility.

The study included 38 girls who had not yet reached puberty but developed pubic hair before the age of 8, which typically means they'll start puberty earlier than their peers. The girls in the study had another risk factor for early puberty: They'd been born small and experienced rapid catch-up growth during infancy, leading to increased belly fat. That put them at increased risk for insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, according to background information in the study.

Read the full article at pharmdaily.com