Lab study, 2024
Does a specific type of good bacteria help reduce PMS symptoms?
In mice with high prolactin, a bacteria called Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 reduced uterine tissue changes and lowered inflammatory substances linked to PMS. This was an animal study, so we don't know yet if it would help women.
What they did
Researchers did lab experiments and gave mice this specific bacteria. The mice had artificially high prolactin (a hormone) caused by a medication. They measured changes in uterine tissue, hormone levels, and inflammatory substances.
What they found
The bacteria reduced uterine tissue mass and the thickness of the tissue lining the uterus. It changed hormone levels including follicle-stimulating hormone, prostaglandin E1/E2, and the ratio of progesterone to estradiol. Prolactin levels decreased. Inflammatory substances including IL-6, TNF, and IL-1 beta decreased. Gene expression of inflammatory markers including TNF, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS was reduced.
What it means for you
In mice, this bacteria showed promise by reducing hormonal and inflammatory changes thought to cause PMS. However, this was only in mice with artificially high prolactin, not real women with PMS.
10^9 CFU/kg/day
Bacteria dose
About the study
- Original title
- Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 Improves Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms by Regulating Sex Hormones and Inflammatory Cytokines in a Mouse Model of Metoclopramide-Induced Hyperprolactinemia
- Authors
- Kim HJ, Jeong JW, Kim JY et al.
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Lab study
- What was tested
- Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 bacteria
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3390/nu16223889
Original abstract
Background/objectives: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a clinical condition that manifests in the form of various physical and psychological symptoms, occurs periodically during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and reduces quality of life. Methods: Here, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus helveticus HY7801 (HY7801) on PMS symptoms. Results: Data from the in vitro experiments showed that HY7801 inhibits prolactin secretion by estradiol-induced GH3 cells, as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cells. Additionally, the oral administration of HY7801 (10 9 colony-forming units/kg/day) to mice with metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia reduced uterine tissue mass and endometrial thickness, both of which were increased excessively in the presence of prolactin. HY7801 also regulated the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and prostaglandin E1/E2, as well as recovering the progesterone/estradiol ratio. HY7801 also downregulated the serum levels of prolactin and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin ( Il )-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( Tnf ), and IL-1β. Finally, HY7801 reduced the expression of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines (i.e., Tnf and Il-6 ), cyclooxygenase-2 ( Cox-2 ), and inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS ) in mice with hyperprolactinemia. Conclusion: In summary, HY7801 may be a functional bacterium that alleviates PMS symptoms by modulating hormones and inflammatory markers.
Reproduced under CC-BY.