Three-strain probiotic may benefit menopausal women

A three-strain probiotic formula appears to improve menopause-associated symptoms and quality of life, as shown in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Researchers conducted a decentralized trial using a real-world approach and enrolled women ages 45–60 years who were in perimenopause or postmenopause and had Cervantes Quality of Life score of ≥38.

A total of 245 women were randomly assigned to receive treatment with the probiotic formula (n=160; mean age 51.07 years, mean BMI 26.72 kg/m²) or placebo (n=85; mean age 51.2 years, mean BMI 25.89 kg/m²) for 3 months. The probiotic intervention was a three-strain formula that comprised Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Pediococcus acidilactici.

The primary outcomes were menopausal symptoms and quality of life, evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) II and the Cervantes Quality of Life scale, respectively. Secondary outcomes included individual MRS II and Cervantes domain scores, the Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) total score, and the digestive tolerance to the study products.

Over 3 months, the MRS II total scores decreased in both groups, although the change was greater in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (mean difference, −1.00; p=0.033). The change observed in the somato-vegetative domain of the MRS II was also more favourable in the probiotic group (mean difference, −0.54; p=0.007).

For quality of life, total Cervantes scores at 3 months were similar between the probiotic and placebo groups. Meanwhile, UQOL scores from baseline significantly improved in the probiotic group (70.49 vs 67.51; p<0.001) but remained unchanged in the placebo group (68.87 vs 68.64; p=0.857), with the mean difference in UQOL scores at 3 months in favour of the probiotic group (2.21; p=0.040).

More studies are needed to confirm the present findings and establish the underlying mechanisms of action linking the three-strain probiotic formulation with improvements in menopausal symptoms and quality of life.