Takeaway
- This meta-analysis suggests that synbiotics and probiotics supplementations significantly improve hormonal (Free Androgen Index [FAI], sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG]) and inflammatory (nitric oxide [NO], malondialdehyde [MDA]) indices in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Why this matters
- Some studies have demonstrated the efficacy of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in improving hormonal and inflammatory indicators in patients with PCOS.
Study design
- Meta-analysis of 13 studies involving 855 participants with PCOS (intervention group: n=438; control group: n=417).
- Funding: None.
Key results
- Probiotics and synbiotics vs control significantly increased SHBG (standard mean difference [SMD], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.26-0.86; P=.0002; I2=0%) and NO (SMD, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.09-0.68; P=.01; I2=0%).
- Probiotics and synbiotics vs control significantly reduced FAI (SMD, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.95-0.21; P=.002; I2=68%) and MDA (SMD, 0.76; 95% CI, 1.46-0.05; P=.03; I2=81%).
- No significant differences between groups were observed in other hormonal and inflammatory indices such as testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, total glutathione, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, total antioxidant capacity, and hirsutism score
Limitations
- Small number of studies.
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