ABSTRACT
AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lactobacilli strains in preventing the recurrences of vaginal candidiasis (VC) in 78 pregnant women with VC (lactobacilli, n = 39; placebo, n = 39) and the potential benefits on quality of life. METHODS AND RESULTS: The lactobacilli putative probiotic (SynForU-HerCare; two capsules/day of 9·5 log CFU per capsule) or placebo was administered for 8-weeks in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Subjects were assessed for vaginal and gut health conditions at baseline, week-4 and week-8 via questionnaires. The vulvovaginal symptom questionnaire not only covered aspects pertaining to vulvovaginal symptoms but also the quality of life impacts such as emotional, social and sexual. The administration of lactobacilli reduced symptoms of irritation (P = 0·023) and discharge (P = 0·011) starting week-4 and continued after week-8 (P < 0·05), accompanied by reduced symptoms for burning after week-8 (P = 0·046) as compared to the placebo. Patients consuming lactobacilli also showed reduced concern about symptoms after week-4 (P = 0·010) and continued after week-8 (P = 0·001), accompanied by reduced impairment of daily activities attributed to vulvovaginal symptoms (P = 0·012) and continued after week-8 (P = 0·026). Insignificant differences were observed for sexual impacts between treatment groups. The administration of lactobacilli also reduced recurrences of both emotional and social stress as compared to the placebo at both week-4 and week-8 (P < 0·05). Patients consuming lactobacilli showed higher defecation times per week at week-4 (P = 0·010) and week-8 (P = 0·001) as compared to the placebo group, indicating the potential to reduce risks of pregnancy-induced constipation. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacilli probiotics are beneficial towards pregnant women, especially in reducing vulvovaginal symptoms and recurrences of VC, accompanied by improved emotional and social distress attributed to VC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study demonstrated the preventive and modulatory roles of lactobacilli strains against VC in pregnant women. Taken altogether, our present data illustrated that lactobacilli probiotics are beneficial towards pregnant women, especially in reducing vulvovaginal symptoms and recurrences of VC, accompanied by improved emotional and social distress attributed to VC, thus could be a potential strategy for the maintenance of vaginal health during pregnancy.