A Cohort Study to Elucidate the Effects of Metformin on Androgens and Other Steroid Hormones in Affected Subjects With Autism - a First Pilot Study

To date, the etiopathogenesis or the biochemical basis of social withdrawal behavior have not been conclusively clarified and accordingly the treatment options are not exhausted. Investigators know from analyzes of those affected by the most severe form of social impairment respectively from subjects with autism that there appears to be a change in the cholesterol-dependent steroid metabolism. Furthermore, it can be assumed that treatment with different substances could be promising. Metformin seems to cause a direct inhibition of the androgen synthesis pathways while parallel influencing social behavior. In principle, Metformin is mainly used to treat Diabetes mellitus type 2. It is a biguanide drug that has been used for more than 60 years. Studies have shown that metformin improves mortality rates in diabetes patients, and younger studies show additional effects in treating cancer, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome.Treatment with metformin mimics some of the benefits of caloric restriction, such as improved physical performance while yielding to increased insulin sensitivity and reduced low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, as chronic inflammation is also influenced by exercise training it is allowed to assume similar mechanism of Metformin and physical activity. At a molecular level, metformin increases activated protein kinase activity and increases antioxidant protection, resulting in reductions in both oxidative damage accumulation and chronic inflammation thereby mimicking positive effects of endurance training.In consequence, it was indicated that these actions may contribute to the beneficial effects of metformin on health- and lifespan. Focusing on neurologic diseases affected by Metformin positive effects on Alzheimer's disease were shown. Metformin attenuated spatial memory deficit, neuron loss in the hippocampus and enhanced neurogenesis in mice. In another mouse model the metformin treatment counteracted the development of depression-like behaviors in mice suffering social defeat stress when administered. This directly yields to the aim of the study: to assess effects of Metformin on steroid hormones in subjects affected with autism.