Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation and Lifestyle Modifications on Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to evaluate effects of lifestyle modifications and synbiotic supplementation on PCOS.

DESIGN

A randomized (1:1) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Academic hospital.

PATIENTS OR OTHER

PARTICIPANTS

Overweight and obese women with PCOS were identified according to the Rotterdam criteria. Evaluations were performed at baseline and repeated after 3 months of treatment.

INTERVENTION: Lifestyle modifications in combination with synbiotic supplementation or placebo.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in body mass index (BMI) and testosterone level.

RESULTS

In the placebo group, a 5% decrease in BMI was accompanied by significant decreases of the waist, hip, and thigh circumferences. The synbiotic group experienced an 8% decrease in BMI, which was significantly greater than that in the control group (P = 0.03) and was accompanied by decreases in the waist, hip, and thigh circumferences. Testosterone did not decrease significantly in the placebo group (decrease of 6%), whereas in the synbiotic group it decreased by 32% (P < 0.0001). The decrease of testosterone was significantly greater in the synbiotic group than in the placebo group (P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Synbiotic supplementation potentiated effects of lifestyle modifications on weight loss and led to significant reduction of serum testosterone.