Probiotics, synbiotics beneficial for PCOS patients

Probiotics and synbiotics may help improve glucose control, as well as hormonal and inflammatory indices, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a recent study has shown.

Accessing the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Web of Science, researchers included eight randomized controlled trials, corresponding to nine treatment arms. Four studies used probiotics and the remaining used synbiotics. All studies were deemed to be of high quality, according to Jadad scores. A total of 540 women were included.

Probiotics and synbiotics had a significant suppressive effect on fasting blood sugar (mean difference, –2.52 mg/dL; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], –4.10 to –0.95), insulin concentration (mean difference, –2.27 µIU/mL; 95 percent CI, –3.40 to –1.14) and C-reactive protein levels (CRP; mean difference, –1.69, 95 percent CI, –3.00 to –0.38).

Testosterone was also significantly decreased (mean difference, –0.12 ng/mL; 95 percent CI, –0.17 to –0.08) as was the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR; mean difference, –0.69, 95 percent CI, –0.98 to –0.40).

Weight and body mass index, on the other hand, showed no significant changes as a result of probiotic or synbiotic use.

Subgroup analysis according to type of supplementation found that synbiotics significantly reduced fasting blood sugar, insulin, CRP and HOMA-IR, while probiotics decreased body weight and fasting blood sugar.

“Future studies are required to confirm the beneficial effect of probiotics and synbiotics in the treatment and management of PCOS,” said researchers.