Vitamin D and probiotic co-supplementation affects mental health, hormonal, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Fereshteh Bahmani
Vahidreza Ostadmohammadi
Mehri Jamilian
Zatollah Asemi
Journal: Journal of Ovarian Research (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Hormonal profiles; Inflammatory markers; Mental health; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Probiotic
Affiliations: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran., Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran., Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. .

Abstract:  Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D and probiotic co-administration on mental health, hormonal, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out on 60 subjects, aged 18-40 years old. Subjects were randomly allocated to take either 50,000 IU vitamin D every 2 weeks plus 8 × 109 CFU/day probiotic (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Results: Vitamin D and probiotic co-supplementation, compared with the placebo, significantly improved beck depression inventory [β (difference in the mean of outcomes measures between treatment groups) - 0.58; 95% CI, - 1.15, - 0.02; P = 0.04], general health questionnaire scores (β - 0.93; 95% CI, - 1.78, - 0.08; P = 0.03) and depression, anxiety and stress scale scores (β - 0.90; 95% CI, - 1.67, - 0.13; P = 0.02). Vitamin D and probiotic co-supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in total testosterone (β - 0.19 ng/mL; 95% CI, - 0.28, - 0.10; P &lt; 0.001), hirsutism (β - 0.95; 95% CI, - 1.39, - 0.51; P &lt; 0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β - 0.67 mg/L; 95% CI, - 0.97, - 0.38; P &lt; 0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (β - 0.25 μmol/L; 95% CI, - 0.40, - 0.10; P = 0.001), and a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (β 82.81 mmol/L; 95% CI, 42.86, 122.75; P &lt; 0.001) and total glutathione (GSH) levels (β 40.42 μmol/L; 95% CI, 4.69, 76.19; P = 0.02), compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Overall, the co-administration of vitamin D and probiotic for 12 weeks to women with PCOS had beneficial effects on mental health parameters, serum total testosterone, hirsutism, hs-CRP, plasma TAC, GSH and MDA levels. Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered in the Iranian website ( www.irct.ir ) for registration of clinical trials ( IRCT20170513033941N37 ). 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 There are many concerns about the integrity of 172 publications by this research group, including this one. Some of the concerns are published 1. Anaesthesia 2020;75:1683u201392, see Supplementary data. This paper is A171 2. Account Res 2020;28:149-61. 3. J Clin Epidemiol 2021;131:22-29. Journals and publishers were notified of these concerns in July 2019. 18 publications have an expression of concern, and 6 have been retracted. To our knowledge there has been no public response about any of the concerns. We think these publications are unreliable ,