Menopause (2)

Menopause is often accompanied by a range of symptoms that can significantly disrupt daily life. 

Mood changes, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, osteoporosis and weight gain are common symptoms of menopause.

Scientific research suggests that probiotics can help relieve these symptoms or reduce their severity.

The lack of estrogen production during the menopausal and postmenopausal periods can increase the vaginal pH level, leading to vaginal infections.

Probiotics may help prevent vaginal infections and symptoms related to them such as UTIs.

Estrogen also plays a vital role in maintaining bone strength, and a decline in estrogen production can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.

A recent study found that taking probiotics may help increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. 

Weight gain is common among those who experience perimenopause and menopause because of the progressive decline in estrogen production and ovarian function.

Probiotics may promote weight loss by increasing short-chain fatty acids, increasing the number of beneficial bacteria, reducing inflammation and fat deposition, and improving insulin sensitivity.

References:

Kim, J. M., & Park, Y. J. (2017). Probiotics in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal vaginal infections. Journal of Menopausal Medicine, 23(3), 139-145.

Lambert, M. N. T., Thorup, A. C., Hansen, E. S. S., & Jeppesen, P. B. (2017). Combined Red Clover isoflavones and probiotics potently reduce menopausal vasomotor symptoms. PloS one, 12(6), e0176590.

Wang, Z. B., Xin, S. S., Ding, L. N., Ding, W. Y., Hou, Y. L., Liu, C. Q., & Zhang, X. D. (2019). The potential role of probiotics in controlling overweight/obesity and associated metabolic parameters in adults: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019(1), 3862971.

Yu, J., Cao, G., Yuan, S., Luo, C., Yu, J., & Cai, M. (2021). Probiotic supplements and bone health in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ open, 11(3), e041393.