Among secondary endpoints , a significant reduction of maternal insulin ( both in women with or without diabetes ) was observed in the probiotics group .
INTERPRETATION Probiotics during pregnancy do not reduce the incidence of GDM , with a very little ( statistically but not clinical ly significant ) reduction of fasting plasma glucose
AIM To perform a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) to evaluate the effect of  probiotics in pregnancy on the  incidence of gestational diabetes ( GDM ) and fasting plasma glucose ( FPG ) .
Effect of probiotic yoghurt on plasma glucose in overweight and obese pregnant women: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Introduction There is only some evidence about effectiveness of probiotics for preventing gestational hyperglycaemia . This trial examined the effects of probiotic yoghurts containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 on maternal plasma glucose ( primary outcome ) and on some maternal and infant complications ( secondary outcomes ) in overweight and obese women with no diabetes in pregnancy . Methods Using stratified block r and omization , women with pre- or early-pregnancy BMI ≥ 25 and fasting plasma glucose < 92 mg/dl at 22 weeks of gestation were assigned into probiotic or conventional yoghurt group , consuming 100 g/day from 24 weeks of gestation until delivery . The women and their infants were followed up until 1 month after birth . Results In each group , one out of 65 women  had intra-uterine foetal death and were not analysed for other outcomes . The mean BMI was 29.2 ( SD 3.3 ) in probiotic and 30.3 ( SD 4.1 ) in conventional yoghurt group . Four weeks after initiation of the treatment , plasma glucose levels were significantly lower in the probiotic than in conventional yoghurt group at fasting ( mean difference adjusted for the BMI category ) and baseline FPG ( − 4.0 mg/dl ; 95 % confidence interval − 6.9 , − 1.1 ) and 2-h OGTT ( − 13.9 ; − 22.8 , − 5.0 ) . At the 1-h OGTT , however , the difference was not statistically significant ( − 9.8 ; − 20.6 , 0.9 ) . Further , there was a significantly lower infant bilirubin level in the probiotic group on days 3–5 after birth ( − 2.2 mg/dl ; − 3.3 , − 1.2 ) . There were not statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the risk of gestational diabetes ( 6 vs 11 ; odds ratio 0.5 ; 0.2 , 1.5 ) , preterm delivery ( 3 vs 8 ; 0.3 ; 0.1 , 1.2 ) , and other maternal and infant outcomes . Conclusion The probiotics supplementation has some beneficial effects on glucose metabolism of overweight and obese pregnant women . Nevertheless , further studies are required to judge the clinical significance of such effects
Among secondary endpoints , a significant reduction of maternal insulin ( both in women with or without diabetes ) was observed in the probiotics group .
INTERPRETATION Probiotics during pregnancy do not reduce the incidence of GDM , with a very little ( statistically but not clinical ly significant ) reduction of fasting plasma glucose
AIM To perform a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) to evaluate the effect of  probiotics in pregnancy on the  incidence of gestational diabetes ( GDM ) and fasting plasma glucose ( FPG ) .