The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Status in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Mansooreh Samimi
Elahe Seyed Hosseini
Zatollah Asemi
Maryam Tajabadi-Ebrahimi
Hamed Haddad Kashani
Adeleh Dadkhah
Journal: Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (2019)
Discipline: MICROBIOLOGY
Keywords: Glycemic control; Lipid profiles; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Probiotic bacteria; Synbiotic supplementation.
Affiliations: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran., Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran., Science Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Central Branch, Tehran, Iran., Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. .

Abstract:  Data on the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profiles in women with PCOS. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done at the Naghavi Hospital affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran, between April 2017 and June 2017. Sixty women with PCOS were randomized to intake synbiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus strain T16 (IBRC-M10785), Lactobacillus casei strain T2 (IBRC-M10783), and Bifidobacterium bifidum strain T1 (IBRC-M10771) (2 × 109 CFU/g each) plus 800 mg inulin (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12-week intervention to determine related variables. Compared with the placebo, synbiotic supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum insulin concentrations (- 2.8 ± 4.1 vs. + 1.8 ± 6.4 μIU/mL, P = 0.002) and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (- 0.7 ± 1.0 vs. + 0.4 ± 1.5, P = 0.002), and a significant elevation in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.01 ± 0.01 vs. - 0.01 ± 0.03, P &lt; 0.001). In addition, significant decreases in serum triglycerides (- 16.2 ± 31.4 vs. + 5.8 ± 23.1 mg/dL, P = 0.003), VLDL-cholesterol concentrations (- 3.3 ± 6.3 vs. + 1.1 ± 4.6 mg/dL, P = 0.003), and AIP (- 0.05 ± 0.08 vs. - 0.003 ± 0.10 mg/dL, P = 0.03) were seen following the supplementation of synbiotic compared with the placebo. Overall, we found that synbiotic supplementation to women with PCOS for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on markers of insulin resistance, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol concentrations, and AIP, but did not influence other lipid profiles. Trial registration: www.irct.ir: IRCT201604015623N71. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig. 4.  Silencing ADAM10 inhibits the PI3K and AKT phosphorylation in LPS-induced RA-FLS. RA-FLS were pretreated with ADAM10 siRNA for 24 h and exposed to human LPS for 48 h. Western blotting was performed with specific antibodies against the indicated proteins . ![file] Figs 4C, 5D from [Zhang et al (2014)] . ![file] Figs 3C and 7 from [Liu et al (2014)] ... ![] ... Fig 5C, [Li et al (2014)] . ![file] , 
 Retracted [4 January 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, an interested reader noted that certain of the western blotting assay data shown in Fig. 4 were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published elsewhere, or were already under consideration for publication, prior to its submission to *Molecular Medicine Reports*, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. After having been in contact with the authors, they agreed with the decision to retract the paper. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,