The effects of probiotics supplementation on metabolic health in pregnant women: An evidence based meta-analysis

PLoS ONE
Q1
May 2018
Citations:51
Influential Citations:1
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
84
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Methods
Randomized clinical trials in pregnant women including healthy pregnant women, obese pregnant women, and women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); enrollment ranged 60–256 participants; ten RCTs included in the analysis.
Intervention
Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy. Regimens varied across studies: doses ranged from about 10^7 to 10^10 CFU daily; strains largely Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. One trial in obese pregnant women used Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 at 10^9 CFU daily from 24 to 28 weeks gestation.
Results
Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy is associated with improved glycemic control across populations. In women with GDM, lower fasting serum insulin and lower HOMA-IR were observed; no significant changes in lipid levels. In healthy pregnant women, lower fasting insulin was reported. In obese pregnant women, one trial showed no differences in maternal glycemia or pregnancy outcomes, likely due to small sample size. Infant health outcomes were rarely reported, with one study showing no differences in prenatal or postnatal growth. Overall, probiotics during pregnancy appear to improve glucose metabolism and are considered safe and easy to implement, but optimal dose and probiotic strains remain unclear; more large, high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm effects on birth outcomes and long-term health.
Limitations
Small sample sizes (60–256 per trial); short intervention durations in several studies (often 6–8 weeks from diagnosis to delivery); short follow-up; heterogeneity in populations (healthy, obese, GDM) and gestational stages; variability in probiotic strains and CFU counts; limited data on infant outcomes; insufficient data to determine long-term effects.

Abstract

The prevalence of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing rapidly. Probiotics supplementation have been shown to improve metabolic health in humans. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics supplemen...