SynthesisDiabetes, obesity & metabolism2025

Combined liraglutide and metformin therapy in overweight or obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jing Ling, Tiantian Wang, Wenrui Huang, Yuhua Zhen, Mingzi Zhang, Xingzi Fang, Wencong Song, Xuelian Du

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2025. The graph read 1 number from its abstract, feeding 2 cells of the map: it . Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

1number the graph read from it
2cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
-2.430 · no effect
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)liraglutide plus metformin vs metformin alonefavours the treatment · t2d, obesityfeeds 2 cells of the map
Δ -1.92-2.43 to -1.41
Compared to metformin alone, the combination of liraglutide and metformin significantly improved glycaemic metabolism: FPG (standard mean difference = -1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-2.43, -1.41]; I CONCLUSION: The combination of liraglutide and metformin resulted in greater improvements in body weight, blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, hormone balance (including LH, FSH and testosterone) and cholesterol profiles.

clause the extractor read what became the number

2 · Its place on the map

Where it lands on the map

Rows are treatments, columns are outcomes. The coloured squares are the cells this paper feeds, coloured by the vote it casts there. Click one to jump to what this paper adds to it.

supports the treatmentfavours the comparatorno clear differenceread, but no usable result
3 · What it changes

What it adds to each cell

For every cell the paper feeds: the belief in the claim with and without this paper, and this paper's estimate drawn against every other readable study in the cell. The ringed dot is this paper.

GLP-1 receptor agonists×glycemic control

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

40 readable studies in this cell: 97 favour the treatment, 16 find no difference, 10 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.91replicated · 68 families support, 7 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
0 · no effect
NCT017204463,297 enrolled · 2013
Δ -0.66-0.80 to -0.52
NCT036893742,274 enrolled · 2018
Δ -0.29-0.38 to -0.20
NCT039879191,879 enrolled · 2019
Δ -0.51-0.64 to -0.38
NCT026078651,864 enrolled · 2016
Δ -0.50-0.60 to -0.40
NCT013360231,663 enrolled · 2011
Treatment contrast -0.64-0.75 to -0.53
NCT040178321,441 enrolled · 2019
Δ -0.20-0.30 to -0.10
NCT018365231,398 enrolled · 2013
Δ -0.20-0.32 to -0.07
NCT019301881,231 enrolled · 2013
Δ -1.06-1.21 to -0.91
NCT007344741,202 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.71-0.87 to -0.55
NCT020581471,170 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.29-0.38 to -0.19
NCT003184611,091 enrolled · 2006
Δ -1.09-1.30 to -0.88
NCT021289321,089 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.81-0.96 to -0.67

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

Metformin×glycemic control

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

40 readable studies in this cell: 41 favour the treatment, 12 find no difference, 8 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.84replicated · 32 families support, 6 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
0 · no effect
NCT017190031,413 enrolled · 2012
Adjusted mean -0.72-0.95 to -0.48
NCT018093271,186 enrolled · 2013
Δ -0.40-0.59 to -0.21
NCT022730501,136 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.89-1.08 to -0.69
NCT008598981,093 enrolled · 2009
Δ -0.53-0.74 to -0.32
Δ -0.85-43.8 to 26.7
NCT00643851994 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.86-1.11 to -0.62
NCT01708902876 enrolled · 2012
Δ -1.00-1.23 to -0.78
NCT00676338820 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.05-0.26 to 0.17
NCT01126580807 enrolled · 2010
Δ -0.22-0.36 to -0.08
NCT01023581784 enrolled · 2009
Δ -0.67-0.96 to -0.37
NCT01076088744 enrolled · 2010
Δ -0.84-1.15 to -0.52
NCT00386100688 enrolled · 2006
Δ -0.49-0.67 to -0.30

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

4 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

5 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
6 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

7 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jing LingGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guanzhou, Guangdong, China.
Tiantian WangGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guanzhou, Guangdong, China.
Wenrui HuangGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guanzhou, Guangdong, China.
Yuhua ZhenGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guanzhou, Guangdong, China.
Mingzi ZhangGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guanzhou, Guangdong, China.
Xingzi FangGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guanzhou, Guangdong, China.
Wencong SongShenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Xuelian DuShenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1358-5477

Funding

Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen SZZYSM202211006Shenzhen Science and Technology Program JCYJ20230807094804009
8 · The paper itself

Abstract

The marked sentences are the ones the graph read a number from.

purposeOverweight or obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often experience significant metabolic and hormonal disturbances. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether liraglutide combined with metformin is more effective than metformin alone in improving glycaemic control, lipid metabolism, body mass index (BMI) and sex hormone profiles in this population.

methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, SinoMed and Wanfang Data for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing liraglutide plus metformin to metformin monotherapy in overweight or obese women with PCOS. Primary outcomes included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), BMI, sex hormones (luteinising hormone [LH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], total testosterone [TT]) and lipid profiles (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]). Subgroup analyses were conducted by treatment duration, lifestyle intervention and baseline BMI.

resultsA total of 19 RCTs involving 1657 women with PCOS were included. Compared to metformin alone, the combination of liraglutide and metformin significantly improved glycaemic metabolism: FPG (standard mean difference = -1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-2.43, -1.41]; I

conclusionThe combination of liraglutide and metformin resulted in greater improvements in body weight, blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, hormone balance (including LH, FSH and testosterone) and cholesterol profiles. These findings indicate that the combined therapy offers more comprehensive metabolic and hormonal benefits than metformin alone for women with PCOS.

Indexed as

Hypoglycemic AgentsLiraglutideMetforminObesityOverweightPolycystic Ovary SyndromeBlood GlucoseBody Mass IndexDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHumansInsulin ResistanceLipid MetabolismRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeBlood GlucoseHypoglycemic AgentsLiraglutideMetforminliraglutidemetforminoverweight and obesitypolycystic ovary syndromesystematic review and meta‐analysis

Identifiers

PMID40855964
PMCPMC12515772

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.