Effect of probiotics on vaginal health in pregnancy. EFFPRO, a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Oral probiotics may be suitable for implementation in antenatal care but, as administered here, had no effect on vaginal health during mid gestation. Other application routes or probiotic preparations may be more effective in supporting vaginal microbiota during pregnancy.

Efficacy of Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Preventing Vulvovaginal Infections During Pregnancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…Although the species in these studies are the same as in ours, the strains differ. Our results are consistent with previous studies that demonstrated ineffective transfer of probiotics via the oral-vaginal route in pregnancy [21,22,26]. The inability to detect these bacteria is unlikely related to the MALDI-TOF-MS technique, as it has been shown to be highly effective for detecting specific bacterial strains in various specimens, including lactobacilli from the vagina [18, 27,28].…”

Efficacy of Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Preventing Vulvovaginal Infections During Pregnancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…Although the species in these studies are the same as in ours, the strains differ. Our results are consistent with previous studies that demonstrated ineffective transfer of probiotics via the oral-vaginal route in pregnancy [21,22,26]. The inability to detect these bacteria is unlikely related to the MALDI-TOF-MS technique, as it has been shown to be highly effective for detecting specific bacterial strains in various specimens, including lactobacilli from the vagina [18, 27,28].…”

Effects of oral probiotic supplements on vaginal microbiota during pregnancy: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial with microbiome analysis

“…However, conclusive evidence has been hampered by inadequacies in trial design (for example sample size), variations in the interventions strains that were used, in the outcome measures, mode of administration, and control of confounding factors such as use of antibiotics and topical antimicrobials. Our findings support those recently reported by Gille et al In a randomised, controlled trial, 320 women at <12 weeks’ gestational age were allocated to once‐daily oral capsules of L. rhamnosus GR‐1 or L. reuteri RC‐14 or placebo for 8 weeks. No differences were found in the prevalence of BV assessed by Nugent score between probiotic and placebo groups before (placebo group 5.4% versus probiotic group 2.8%, P = 0.376) and after the intervention period (placebo group 1.5% versus probiotic group 2.2%, P = 1.000).…”

Is prenatal diet associated with the composition of the vaginal microbiome?

“…[47][48][49][50][51] Results from randomised trials suggest that probiotic supplementation via oral pills during pregnancy had no effect on microbiome composition, although all three studies supplemented with different probiotics. [50][51][52] Our findings that higher low-fat dairy, yogurt and vitamin D consumption were associated with more favourable vagitype membership is consistent with our hypothesis. Yogurt has the highest volume of production among cultured dairy products in the United States, and regulations stipulate that Steptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus be used in the starter culture in yogurt production.…”

Efficacy of Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Preventing Vulvovaginal Infections During Pregnancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…Although the species in these studies are the same as in ours, the strains differ. Our results are consistent with previous studies that demonstrated ineffective transfer of probiotics via the oral-vaginal route in pregnancy [21,22,26]. The inability to detect these bacteria is unlikely related to the MALDI-TOF-MS technique, as it has been shown to be highly effective for detecting specific bacterial strains in various specimens, including lactobacilli from the vagina [18, 27,28].…”

Effects of oral probiotic supplements on vaginal microbiota during pregnancy: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial with microbiome analysis

“…However, conclusive evidence has been hampered by inadequacies in trial design (for example sample size), variations in the interventions strains that were used, in the outcome measures, mode of administration, and control of confounding factors such as use of antibiotics and topical antimicrobials. Our findings support those recently reported by Gille et al In a randomised, controlled trial, 320 women at <12 weeks’ gestational age were allocated to once‐daily oral capsules of L. rhamnosus GR‐1 or L. reuteri RC‐14 or placebo for 8 weeks. No differences were found in the prevalence of BV assessed by Nugent score between probiotic and placebo groups before (placebo group 5.4% versus probiotic group 2.8%, P = 0.376) and after the intervention period (placebo group 1.5% versus probiotic group 2.2%, P = 1.000).…”

Is prenatal diet associated with the composition of the vaginal microbiome?

“…[47][48][49][50][51] Results from randomised trials suggest that probiotic supplementation via oral pills during pregnancy had no effect on microbiome composition, although all three studies supplemented with different probiotics. [50][51][52] Our findings that higher low-fat dairy, yogurt and vitamin D consumption were associated with more favourable vagitype membership is consistent with our hypothesis. Yogurt has the highest volume of production among cultured dairy products in the United States, and regulations stipulate that Steptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus be used in the starter culture in yogurt production.…”

Efficacy of Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Preventing Vulvovaginal Infections During Pregnancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…Although the species in these studies are the same as in ours, the strains differ. Our results are consistent with previous studies that demonstrated ineffective transfer of probiotics via the oral-vaginal route in pregnancy [21,22,26]. The inability to detect these bacteria is unlikely related to the MALDI-TOF-MS technique, as it has been shown to be highly effective for detecting specific bacterial strains in various specimens, including lactobacilli from the vagina [18, 27,28].…”

Effects of oral probiotic supplements on vaginal microbiota during pregnancy: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial with microbiome analysis

“…However, conclusive evidence has been hampered by inadequacies in trial design (for example sample size), variations in the interventions strains that were used, in the outcome measures, mode of administration, and control of confounding factors such as use of antibiotics and topical antimicrobials. Our findings support those recently reported by Gille et al In a randomised, controlled trial, 320 women at <12 weeks’ gestational age were allocated to once‐daily oral capsules of L. rhamnosus GR‐1 or L. reuteri RC‐14 or placebo for 8 weeks. No differences were found in the prevalence of BV assessed by Nugent score between probiotic and placebo groups before (placebo group 5.4% versus probiotic group 2.8%, P = 0.376) and after the intervention period (placebo group 1.5% versus probiotic group 2.2%, P = 1.000).…”

Is prenatal diet associated with the composition of the vaginal microbiome?

“…[47][48][49][50][51] Results from randomised trials suggest that probiotic supplementation via oral pills during pregnancy had no effect on microbiome composition, although all three studies supplemented with different probiotics. [50][51][52] Our findings that higher low-fat dairy, yogurt and vitamin D consumption were associated with more favourable vagitype membership is consistent with our hypothesis. Yogurt has the highest volume of production among cultured dairy products in the United States, and regulations stipulate that Steptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus be used in the starter culture in yogurt production.…”