What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the effects of biotics supplementation on health outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

March 5, 2026Journal of Ovarian Research2 citationsOpen Access

Gut microbiota, a new approach to management of polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-evidence of 26 randomized controlled trials

TYTong YinGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine LLLanfeng LaiGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine XLXiaoyuan LinGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the effects of biotics supplementation on health outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 randomized controlled trials.
Databases searched included Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase.
Focused on prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics affecting health outcomes.
Participants aged 25 to 29 were followed for 8 to 24 weeks.
Prebiotics and probiotics significantly reduced weight, body mass index, and waist circumference.
Insulin, HOMA-IR, malondialdehyde, and triglycerides levels decreased.
Total testosterone levels decreased significantly.
Total antioxidant capacity and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased.

Abstract

Evidence regarding the beneficial effects of biotics supplementation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains inconsistent. To address this discrepancy, this study aimed to investigate the impact of biotics on health outcomes in women with PCOS by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Web of Science ISI, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were comprehensively searched up to October 2025 to identify RCTs on prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics on health outcomes. Twenty-six RCTs with participants aged 25 to 29 were included in the current meta-analysis. All participants were followed up for 8 weeks to 24 weeks. Results showed that prebiotics or probiotics and synbiotics are effective in reducing weight (SMD: -0.57, 95% CI: -1.05, -0.08) and body mass index (BMI) (SMD: -0.42, 95% CI: -0.75, -0.09), waist circumference (WC) (SMD: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.28, -0.28), insulin (SMD: -0.60, 95%CI: -1.12, -0.08), HOMA-IR (SMD: -0.79, 95%CI: -1.48, -0.11), malondialdehyde (MDA) (SMD: -0.77, 95% CI: -1.17, -0.37), and triglyceride (TG) (SMD: -0.62, 95% CI: -1.08, -0.16), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (SMD:-0.71, 95%CI: -1.21, -0.20), and total testosterone (SMD: -1.47, 95% CI: -2.32, -0.62), and led to a significant increase for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (SMD: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.14, 1.01), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (SMD: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.61). This meta-analysis suggests that prebiotic, probiotic, or synbiotic supplementation may have beneficial effects on several health outcomes in women with PCOS.

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