The Effect of Synbiotic on Glycemic Profile and Sex Hormones in Overweight and Obese Breast Cancer Survivors Following a Weight-Loss Diet: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Controlled Trial Publisher Pubmed



Raji Lahiji M¹ ; Najafi S² ; Janani L³ ; Yazdani B⁴ ; Razmpoosh E^{5, 6} ; Zarrati M¹
Source: Clinical Nutrition Published:2021

Abstract

Background: The investigation was designed to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic profile, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and sex hormones in overweight and obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors (BCSs) who had hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Methods: This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 76 overweight and obese BCSs aged 57.43 (5.82) years. All participants were given a specified low calorie diet and were randomly assigned into two groups to intake 109 CFU/day of synbiotic supplement (n = 38) or placebo (n = 38) for 8 weeks. Body composition, physical activity, glycemic profile, IGF-1, estradiol, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Results: A significant reduction in serum insulin (median change (Q1, Q3) from baseline of −1.05 (−2.36, 0.32) μIU/mL; P = 0.006) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (mean change (SD) from baseline of −4.0 (0.9); P = 0.007) were seen over the 8 weeks in the synbiotic group. However, no significant changes were observed in serum insulin, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, IGF-1, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA-S and sex hormone binding globulin between-groups at the end of the intervention. Conclusions: Overall, as the 8-week synbiotic consumption compared with placebo had insignificant-reducing effects on glycemic profile, IGF-1 and sex hormones among overweight and obese postmenopausal BCSs, synbiotics may exert considerable beneficial consequences, which need to be further assessed in future clinical trials. Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT2015090223861N1. Registered 02 February 2017, http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2015090223861N1. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism