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Endocrine Abstracts (2023) 90 EP1161 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.90.EP1161

ECE2023 Eposter Presentations Late Breaking (91 abstracts)

Are there any benefits of probiotic or prebiotic supplementation in hypothyroid patients? A systematic review with meta-analysis

Karolina Zawadzka 1,2 , Klaudia Kałuzińska 2 , Mateusz J. Świerz 3 , Zuzanna Sawiec 2 , Ewa Antonowicz 2 , Monika Leończyk-Spórna 2 , Ahmad Kamal Abadi 4 , Małgorzata Trofimiuk-Müldner 5 & Małgorzata M. Bała 3


1Jagiellonian University Medical College, Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Kraków, Poland, 2Jagiellonian University Medical College, Students’ Scientific Research Group of Systematic Reviews, Faculty of Medicine, Kraków, Poland, 3Jagiellonian University Medical College, Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Dietetics, Kraków, Poland, 4University of Arak, Department of Computer Engineering, Arak, Iran, 5Jagiellonian University Medical College, Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Kraków, Poland


Introduction: A number of studies indicate the presence of a thyroid-gut axis and the important influence of the gut microbiota on thyroid function. As prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics show therapeutic potential in the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of their supplementation in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Material and methods: We searched electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL), registers of clinical trials, and grey literature up to October 6, 2022. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Our protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021235054).

Results: After screening 1721 references, we identified two RCTs including 136 hypothyroid participants in total. Meta-analysis after eight weeks of supplementation with predominantly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains indicated a clinically and statistically unimportant decrease in TSH (MD –0.19 mIU/l; 95% CI –0.43 to 0.06) and no effect on fT3 levels (MD 0.01 pg/ml; 95% CI –0.16 to 0.18). Data from single studies indicated no significant change in the levels of fT4, thyroid autoantibodies, BMI, levothyroxine doses, and severity of symptoms measured with validated scales. Only constipation scores showed significant improvement (MD – 8.71 points in Fecal Incontinence Questionnaire; 95% CI –15.85 to –1.57; I2 = 0%).

Conclusion: Based on limited evidence from two randomised trials, there is no benefit from routine administration of probiotics or synbiotics in patients with primary hypothyroidism. We found no evidence on efficacy of supplementation with prebiotics.

Keywords: Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics, Thyroid, Hypothyroidism

Volume 90

25th European Congress of Endocrinology

Istanbul, Turkey
13 May 2023 - 16 May 2023

European Society of Endocrinology 

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