Synbiotic Supplementation Improves Metabolic Factors and Obesity Values in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Independent of Affecting Apelin Levels: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo - Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: This research investigated the symbiotic supplement influences on serum glycemic indices and lipids as well as apelin rates and obesity values in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 68 obese or overweight patients (20-44 years old) with PCOS were enrolled to conduct a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 34 people in the synbiotic group re- ceived a synbiotic supplement and 34 people in the placebo group received placebo, daily for 8 weeks. Fasting blood specimens, anthropometric measurements and dietary intake data were gathered three times during the study. The information was analyzed by independent t test, paired t test, analysis of covariance and chi-square test. RESULTS: Synbiotic supplementation significantly decreased serum fasting glucose (P=0.02), insulin (P=0.001), ho- meostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (IR, P=0.001), weight (P=0.02), body mass index (BMI, P=0.02), waist circumference (WC, P=0.01), hip circumference (HC, P=0.02), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR, P=0.02) but significantly increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P=0.02) compared to the placebo. At the end of the trial, no significant differences were seen in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or apelin levels as well as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Synbiotic supplementation improved glycemic indices, lipid profile and obesity values in women with PCOS. These beneficial effects were not related with alterations in serum apelin levels (Registration number: IRCT20100408003664N19).