The effect of probiotics on mood and sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a triple-blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

AbstractBackground: Natural menopause is one of the public health problems in the world, which is characterized by the permanent cessation of menstruation due to the lack of ovarian follicular activity, 12 months after menopause, and leads to mood changes, sleep disorders, and hot flashes. Modifying the lifestyle and proper nutritional plan play a role in improving mood and sleep quality. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of probiotics on mood, sleep quality, quality of life, satisfaction with the received intervention and adverse events in postmenopausal women.Methods: This triple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 66 postmenopausal women aged 45-55 in Behbahan city in 2019-2020. Women were assigned to two intervention and control groups by block randomization method. The intervention group received 100 grams of yogurt containing probiotics and control group received 100 grams of regular yogurt; daily after lunch for 6 weeks. Before the intervention and 6 weeks after the intervention, depression, anxiety and stress questionnaires, menopause-specific quality of life and sleep quality were completed. Independent t-test, Man-Whitney-U and ANCOVA were used for data analysis.Results: In terms of socio-demographic characteristics and the basline values of the outcomes, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (P<0.05). Six weeks after the intervention based on the ANCOVA test and adjusting the baseline score, the mean anxiety score (adjusted mean difference (AMD): -0.56; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): -0.01 to -1.12; P=0.044), stress (AMD: -0.76; 95% CI: -0.01 to -1.52; P=0.046) and quality of life (AMD: -4.86; 95% CI: -3.06 - to -6.66; P<0.001) in the group receiving probiotic yogurt was significantly lower than the control group, but in terms of the mean score of depression and the overall score of sleep quality and its subdomains, no statistical difference was observed between the two groups (P<0.05). Also, in terms of satisfaction, about three quarters of the participants in two groups satisfied with the intervention and no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (P<0.05). In terms of adverse events, 1 person reported bloating in the group receiving probiotic yogurt, 2 people reported bloating and 2 people constipation in the group receiving regular yogurt.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the effects of consuming yogurt containing probiotics in improving anxiety, stress and quality of life of menopausal women, but more studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions in this field.