Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41776555›Full record

SynthesisJournal of ovarian research2026

Gut microbiota, a new approach to management of polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-evidence of 26 randomized controlled trials.

Tong Yin, Lanfeng Lai, Xiaoyuan Lin, Lingrong Zhang, Juewei Huang, Kaizhi Huang, Mia Wong, Kangwen Ming

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of ovarian research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Tong Yin *Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou,Guangdong,, China.
Lanfeng Lai *College of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong,, China.
Xiaoyuan LinCollege of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong,, China.
Lingrong ZhangCollege of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong,, China.
Juewei HuangCollege of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong,, China.
Kaizhi HuangCollege of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong,, China.
Mia WongCollege of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong,, China.
Kangwen MingDepartment of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou,Guangdong,, China. mkw1976_medicine@cqu-edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEvidence regarding the beneficial effects of biotics supplementation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains inconsistent. To address this discrepancy, this study aimed to investigate the impact of biotics on health outcomes in women with PCOS by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis.

methodsWeb of Science ISI, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were comprehensively searched up to October 2025 to identify RCTs on prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics on health outcomes.

resultsTwenty-six RCTs with participants aged 25 to 29 were included in the current meta-analysis. All participants were followed up for 8 weeks to 24 weeks. Results showed that prebiotics or probiotics and synbiotics are effective in reducing weight (SMD: -0.57, 95% CI: -1.05, -0.08) and body mass index (BMI) (SMD: -0.42, 95% CI: -0.75, -0.09), waist circumference (WC) (SMD: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.28, -0.28), insulin (SMD: -0.60, 95%CI: -1.12, -0.08), HOMA-IR (SMD: -0.79, 95%CI: -1.48, -0.11), malondialdehyde (MDA) (SMD: -0.77, 95% CI: -1.17, -0.37), and triglyceride (TG) (SMD: -0.62, 95% CI: -1.08, -0.16), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (SMD:-0.71, 95%CI: -1.21, -0.20), and total testosterone (SMD: -1.47, 95% CI: -2.32, -0.62), and led to a significant increase for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (SMD: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.14, 1.01), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (SMD: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.61).

conclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that prebiotic, probiotic, or synbiotic supplementation may have beneficial effects on several health outcomes in women with PCOS.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal MicrobiomePolycystic Ovary SyndromeFemaleHumansPrebioticsProbioticsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSynbioticsPrebioticsGut microbiotaHormoneInflammationLipidsMeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID41776555
PMCPMC12964853

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.