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Growth, motor, and social development in breast- and formula-fed infants of metformin-treated women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Glueck CJ, Salehi M, Sieve L, Wang P

Cholesterol Center, Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. glueckch@healthall.com

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that metformin during lactation versus formula feeding would have no adverse effects on infants' growth, motor-social development, or intercurrent illness. STUDY DESIGN: Growth, motor-social development, and illness requiring a pediatrician visit were assessed in 61 nursing infants (21 male, 40 female) and 50 formula-fed infants (19 male, 31 female) born to 92 mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) taking a median of 2.55 g metformin per day throughout pregnancy and lactation. RESULTS: Within sex, at 3 and 6 months of age, weight, height, and motor-social development did not differ (p > or = .06) between breast- and formula-fed infants. No infants had retardation of growth, motor, or social development. Intercurrent illnesses did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin during lactation appears to be safe and effective in the first 6 months of infancy.

Published 1 June 2006 in J Pediatr, 148(5): 628-632.
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