Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age.
This study was designed to evaluate effects of lifestyle modifications and synbiotic supplementation on PCOS.
A randomized (1:1) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Academic hospital.
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.
Lifestyle modifications in combination with synbiotic supplementation or placebo.
Change in BMI and testosterone level.
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%), while 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).
Synbiotic supplementation potentiated effects of lifestyle modifications on weight loss and led to significant reduction of serum testosterone.

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