No Cover Image

Journal article 333 views 52 downloads

Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review & meta-analysis

Robin A.F. Andrews Orcid Logo, Arron Lacey Orcid Logo, Helen Roach, Rebeccah Tomlinson, Emma J. Kidd, Kate Bache

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, Volume: 69, Pages: 241 - 256

Swansea University Author: Arron Lacey Orcid Logo

  • 70030.VoR.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.

    Download (3.19MB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.07.009

Abstract

This review investigated the impact of probiotics during the menopause transition and explored their potential to enhance the effectiveness of estrogenic substances in perimenopausal or recently postmenopausal women. A thorough literature search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web...

Full description

Published in: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
ISSN: 2405-4577 2405-4577
Published: Elsevier BV 2025
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70030
first_indexed 2025-07-24T12:26:02Z
last_indexed 2025-10-14T10:03:29Z
id cronfa70030
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-10-13T13:13:08.4359897</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>70030</id><entry>2025-07-24</entry><title>Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp;amp; meta-analysis</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>b69d245574e754d2637cc9e76379fe11</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-7983-8073</ORCID><firstname>Arron</firstname><surname>Lacey</surname><name>Arron Lacey</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-07-24</date><deptcode>MEDS</deptcode><abstract>This review investigated the impact of probiotics during the menopause transition and explored their potential to enhance the effectiveness of estrogenic substances in perimenopausal or recently postmenopausal women. A thorough literature search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted, identifying 39 studies involving 3187 women. Quality assessments were conducted using the relevant Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. The results demonstrated that probiotics had positive effects on menopausal symptoms, urogenital health, bone health, and the efficacy and safety of estriol and isoflavones. Meta analysis of 7 studies comparing probiotics versus placebo demonstrated large effects of probiotics on menopausal symptoms (total score) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.82, 95 % CI -0.52 to -1.09], vasomotor symptoms (SMD = -0.96, 95 % CI -1.25 to -0.68), psychological symptoms (SMD = -0.51, 95 % CI -0.95 to -0.08), vaginal dryness (SMD = 0.95, 95 % CI -1.40 to -0.49), and vaginal microbiome health (Nugent score) (SMD = -0.91, 95 % CI -1.32 to -0.49). Meta-analysis results were nonsignificant for reducing somatic and sexual symptoms. Probiotics hold promise in addressing symptoms related to low estrogen levels and may enhance the effects of estriol and isoflavones, offering potential benefits as part of the management of menopausal women. It's important to note that the included studies had a high risk of bias, emphasising the need for further rigorous research in this area. Should findings continue to show promise, clinicians should consider incorporating probiotics into their strategies for managing menopausal symptoms.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Clinical Nutrition ESPEN</journal><volume>69</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>241</paginationStart><paginationEnd>256</paginationEnd><publisher>Elsevier BV</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>2405-4577</issnPrint><issnElectronic>2405-4577</issnElectronic><keywords>Probiotics; Menopausal symptoms; Menopause; Osteoporosis; Hormone replacement therapy; Urogenital Health; Hot Flushes; Lactobacillus; Estriol; Oestrogen</keywords><publishedDay>1</publishedDay><publishedMonth>10</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-10-01</publishedDate><doi>10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.07.009</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Medical School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>MEDS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Another institution paid the OA fee</apcterm><funders>Completion of this work was funded by Health &amp; Her.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-10-13T13:13:08.4359897</lastEdited><Created>2025-07-24T13:19:30.5733133</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Robin A.F.</firstname><surname>Andrews</surname><orcid>0000-0002-5149-7649</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Arron</firstname><surname>Lacey</surname><orcid>0000-0001-7983-8073</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Helen</firstname><surname>Roach</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Rebeccah</firstname><surname>Tomlinson</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Emma J.</firstname><surname>Kidd</surname><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Kate</firstname><surname>Bache</surname><order>6</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>70030__34835__5f6b549fd1fd4eb382de4ed2f8e8e6e1.pdf</filename><originalFilename>70030.VoR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-07-24T13:28:01.8220905</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>3344624</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-10-13T13:13:08.4359897 v2 70030 2025-07-24 Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis b69d245574e754d2637cc9e76379fe11 0000-0001-7983-8073 Arron Lacey Arron Lacey true false 2025-07-24 MEDS This review investigated the impact of probiotics during the menopause transition and explored their potential to enhance the effectiveness of estrogenic substances in perimenopausal or recently postmenopausal women. A thorough literature search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted, identifying 39 studies involving 3187 women. Quality assessments were conducted using the relevant Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. The results demonstrated that probiotics had positive effects on menopausal symptoms, urogenital health, bone health, and the efficacy and safety of estriol and isoflavones. Meta analysis of 7 studies comparing probiotics versus placebo demonstrated large effects of probiotics on menopausal symptoms (total score) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.82, 95 % CI -0.52 to -1.09], vasomotor symptoms (SMD = -0.96, 95 % CI -1.25 to -0.68), psychological symptoms (SMD = -0.51, 95 % CI -0.95 to -0.08), vaginal dryness (SMD = 0.95, 95 % CI -1.40 to -0.49), and vaginal microbiome health (Nugent score) (SMD = -0.91, 95 % CI -1.32 to -0.49). Meta-analysis results were nonsignificant for reducing somatic and sexual symptoms. Probiotics hold promise in addressing symptoms related to low estrogen levels and may enhance the effects of estriol and isoflavones, offering potential benefits as part of the management of menopausal women. It's important to note that the included studies had a high risk of bias, emphasising the need for further rigorous research in this area. Should findings continue to show promise, clinicians should consider incorporating probiotics into their strategies for managing menopausal symptoms. Journal Article Clinical Nutrition ESPEN 69 241 256 Elsevier BV 2405-4577 2405-4577 Probiotics; Menopausal symptoms; Menopause; Osteoporosis; Hormone replacement therapy; Urogenital Health; Hot Flushes; Lactobacillus; Estriol; Oestrogen 1 10 2025 2025-10-01 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.07.009 COLLEGE NANME Medical School COLLEGE CODE MEDS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee Completion of this work was funded by Health & Her. 2025-10-13T13:13:08.4359897 2025-07-24T13:19:30.5733133 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science Robin A.F. Andrews 0000-0002-5149-7649 1 Arron Lacey 0000-0001-7983-8073 2 Helen Roach 3 Rebeccah Tomlinson 4 Emma J. Kidd 5 Kate Bache 6 70030__34835__5f6b549fd1fd4eb382de4ed2f8e8e6e1.pdf 70030.VoR.pdf 2025-07-24T13:28:01.8220905 Output 3344624 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
spellingShingle Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
Arron Lacey
title_short Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_full Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_fullStr Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
title_sort Investigating the effects of probiotics during the menopause transition: A systematic review &amp; meta-analysis
author_id_str_mv b69d245574e754d2637cc9e76379fe11
author_id_fullname_str_mv b69d245574e754d2637cc9e76379fe11_***_Arron Lacey
author Arron Lacey
author2 Robin A.F. Andrews
Arron Lacey
Helen Roach
Rebeccah Tomlinson
Emma J. Kidd
Kate Bache
format Journal article
container_title Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
container_volume 69
container_start_page 241
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 2405-4577
2405-4577
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.07.009
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description This review investigated the impact of probiotics during the menopause transition and explored their potential to enhance the effectiveness of estrogenic substances in perimenopausal or recently postmenopausal women. A thorough literature search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted, identifying 39 studies involving 3187 women. Quality assessments were conducted using the relevant Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. The results demonstrated that probiotics had positive effects on menopausal symptoms, urogenital health, bone health, and the efficacy and safety of estriol and isoflavones. Meta analysis of 7 studies comparing probiotics versus placebo demonstrated large effects of probiotics on menopausal symptoms (total score) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.82, 95 % CI -0.52 to -1.09], vasomotor symptoms (SMD = -0.96, 95 % CI -1.25 to -0.68), psychological symptoms (SMD = -0.51, 95 % CI -0.95 to -0.08), vaginal dryness (SMD = 0.95, 95 % CI -1.40 to -0.49), and vaginal microbiome health (Nugent score) (SMD = -0.91, 95 % CI -1.32 to -0.49). Meta-analysis results were nonsignificant for reducing somatic and sexual symptoms. Probiotics hold promise in addressing symptoms related to low estrogen levels and may enhance the effects of estriol and isoflavones, offering potential benefits as part of the management of menopausal women. It's important to note that the included studies had a high risk of bias, emphasising the need for further rigorous research in this area. Should findings continue to show promise, clinicians should consider incorporating probiotics into their strategies for managing menopausal symptoms.
published_date 2025-10-01T05:29:46Z
_version_ 1851097965362413568
score 11.089386

Similar Items