The effect of probiotic consumption on fatigue severity and sexual function among postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in the west of Iran

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OBJECTIVE: Fatigue and sexual function are reproductive health issues for women. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of probiotic supplementation on fatigue severity, sexual function (primary outcome), and quality of life (secondary outcome) among postmenopausal women. METHODS: A parallel, double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted over 3 months, from September 5, 2024, to December 5, 2024, at Comprehensive Health Service Centers in Hamadan City, Western Iran. The women in the intervention group were administered probiotic supplements in 200 mg daily capsules for 6 weeks. The control group received identically shaped and colored 200 mg capsules filled with starch powder, also taken once daily for 6 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) questionnaires at baseline, week 3, and week 6. RESULTS: In the study, 80 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to 2 groups: one receiving probiotic capsules (n=40) and the other receiving a placebo (n=40). The results reported no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups ( P >0.05). The findings showed that the study outcomes changed differently over time between the probiotic and placebo groups. Women in the probiotic group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in fatigue severity at both 3 and 6 weeks compared with the placebo group ( P =0.006 and 0.001, respectively). The mean FSFI scores and their dimensions in the probiotic group at 3 and 6 weeks following the initiation of the intervention were significantly higher than those in the placebo group, with statistically significant differences observed across all domains, except the pain domain at week 3 ( P <0.05). Results showed at 3 and 6 weeks following the initiation of the intervention, the probiotic group experienced a reduction in symptoms across the vasomotor ( P =0.03 and 0.004, respectively), psychosocial ( P =0.01 and 0.004, respectively), physical ( P =0.07 and 0.002, respectively), and sexual domains ( P =0.02 and 0.005, respectively), as well as in the total MENQOL score ( P =0.003 and <0.001, respectively), when compared with the placebo group. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence supporting the potential therapeutic effects of probiotic consumption in alleviating fatigue severity and improving sexual function in postmenopausal women. In addition, quality of life during menopause was found to improve. Further multicenter, large-scale clinical trials with extended follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these findings.

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