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.