Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Effect of probiotics and synbiotics on selected anthropometric and biochemical measures in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 543–547 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically review randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to clarify the effects of pro-/synbiotic supplementation on anthropometric and biochemical measurements in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched through September 2018. Eight RCTs (nine treatment arms) were included. Pro-/synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood sugar (−2.52 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval (CI): −4.10 to −0.95), insulin (−2.27 µIU/mL, 95% CI: −3.40 to −1.14), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (−0.69, 95% CI: −0.98 to −0.40), C-reactive protein (−1.69 Hedges’, 95% CI: −3.00 to −0.38), and total testosterone (−0.12 ng/mL, 95% CI: −0.17 to −0.08) in women with PCOS. However, changes in the mean difference of weight and body mass index did not reach a statistically significant level. The findings suggest that pro-/synbiotic supplementation may improve glucose homeostasis parameters, hormonal, and inflammatory indices in women with PCOS.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Karimi E, Moini A, Yaseri M, Shirzad N, Sepidarkish M, Hossein-Boroujerdi M, et al. Effects of synbiotic supplementation on metabolic parameters and apelin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2018;119:398–406. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114517003920. e-pub ahead of print 2018/03/03

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ahmadi S, Jamilian M, Karamali M, Tajabadi-Ebrahimi M, Jafari P, Taghizadeh M, et al. Probiotic supplementation and the effects on weight loss, glycaemia and lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Hum Fertil. 2017;20:254–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tremellen K, Pearce K. Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota (DOGMA)--a novel theory for the development of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Med Hypotheses. 2012;79:104–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2012.04.016. e-pub ahead of print 2012/05/01

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Khalesi S, Johnson DW, Campbell K, Williams S, Fenning A, Saluja S, et al. Effect of probiotics and synbiotics consumption on serum concentrations of liver function test enzymes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr. 2018;57:2037–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Esmaeilinezhad Z, Babajafari S, Sohrabi Z, Eskandari M-H, Amooee S, Barati-Boldaji R. Effect of synbiotic pomegranate juice on glycemic, sex hormone profile and anthropometric indices in PCOS: a randomized, triple blind, controlled trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2018;201–8.

  6. Ghanei N, Rezaei N, Amiri GA, Zayeri F, Makki G, Nasseri E. The probiotic supplementation reduced inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Funct Foods. 2018;42:306–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Karamali M, Eghbalpour S, Rajabi S, Jamilian M, Bahmani F, Tajabadi-Ebrahimi M, et al. Effects of probiotic supplementation on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Iran Med. 2018;21:1–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Nasri K, Jamilian M, Rahmani E, Bahmani F, Tajabadi-Ebrahimi M, Asemi Z. The effects of synbiotic supplementation on hormonal status, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Endocr Disord. 2018;18:21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Samimi M, Dadkhah A, Kashani HH, Tajabadi-Ebrahimi M, Hosseini ES, Asemi Z. The effects of synbiotic supplementation on metabolic status in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2018: 1–7.

  10. Shoaei T, Heidari-Beni M, Tehrani HG, Feizi A, Esmaillzadeh A, Askari G. Effects of probiotic supplementation on pancreatic beta-cell function and c-reactive protein in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Int J Prev Med. 2015;6:27. https://doi.org/10.4103/2008-7802.153866. e-pub ahead of print 2015/05/08

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding source

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Hadi

  2. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Sajjad Moradi

  3. Nutritional Sciences Department, School of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Sajjad Moradi

  4. Department of Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Abed Ghavami

  5. Physical Activity Research Group, Appleton Institute & School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Brisbane, Australia

    Saman Khalesi

  6. School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Marzieh Kafeshani

Authors
  1. Amir Hadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sajjad Moradi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abed Ghavami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Saman Khalesi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marzieh Kafeshani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Saman Khalesi or Marzieh Kafeshani.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hadi, A., Moradi, S., Ghavami, A. et al. Effect of probiotics and synbiotics on selected anthropometric and biochemical measures in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 543–547 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0434-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0434-9

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links