Effects of probiotics supplementation on the hormone and body mass index in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women using the standardized diet. A 5-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The results of pioneering studies indicate that probiotics can alleviate menopausal symptoms (including cardiometabolic dysfunctions) and improve the quality of life of perimenopausal/postmenopausal women. However, the results of randomized control trials are scarce to evaluate whether the administration of probiotics could affect the balance of sex hormones during the menopause period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study, 48 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women received multispecies probiotic Sanprobi Barrier in a dose of 2.5 × 109 (CFU) for five weeks. Dietary guidelines were introduced in both groups simultaneously (~1800 kcal/per day, whole grain, no-wheat meals). The study aimed to assess the variations in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), cortisol (as the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis hormone), and the body mass during the intervention. RESULTS: At the endpoint, FSH level has increased significantly concerning the baseline after the probiotic intake (31.91 vs. 42.00 mIU/ml; p < 0.009). Also, in the placebo group, a strong trend to elevate FSH was observed (22.31 vs. 41.99 mIU/ml; p = 0.055). Body mass has crucially decreased in reference to the baseline in both groups (PRO: 27.90 vs. 26.30 kg/m2, p<0.001; PBO: 25.90 to 24.60 kg/m2, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics affect FSH levels in perimenopausal women while simultaneously representing a non-invasive strategy to impact hormonal homeostasis. They could potentially have an impact on cardiometabolic health.

Lack of effect of physical exercise on pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen tablets in healthy subjects.

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of physical exercise on the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen. Ten healthy volunteers were drawn to the investigation. Each person was subjected to the pharmacokinetic study twice, i.e. at rest and on an exercise day. On the exercise day the subjects were performing 3 hours long physical exercise which consisted of a walk on a treadmill at 3 mph for 20 minutes of each half an hour. Acetaminophen was given orally at a single dose of 1.0 g prior to the exercise. Blood for pharmacokinetic assay was sampled within 24 hours following the drug administration. Acetaminophen concentrations were determined by the FPIA method. The total concentrations versus time curve were described by the one-compartment open model for extravascular administration. It was revealed, that the standard submaximal physical exercise does not affect the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen statistically significantly.