The effects of pro-, pre-, and synbiotics supplementation on polycystic ovary syndrome: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

This umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials evaluated the effects of pro-, pre-, and synbiotics supplementation on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The review included 9 meta-analyses with a total of 12 trials. Probiotic supplementation was found to significantly reduce insulin resistance and fasting glucose concentration, while synbiotic supplementation improved glycemic control, lipid profile, and hormonal parameters, although the certainty of this evidence was low to very low. Prebiotics supplementation showed reductions in waist/hip circumference, fasting glucose concentration, lipid profile, and hirsutism score, but again with low certainty. Overall, while there are beneficial effects on some PCOS-related outcomes, the evidence is not strong, and further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.