Effects of synbiotic Gaz consumption on insulin function and serum hs-CRP in pregnant women

Although much effort has gone into decreasing insulin resistance and inflammatory factors by consumption of probiotic-containing products in pregnant women, limited data are available assessing the effects of synbiotic foods. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of synbiotic Gaz consumption on insulin function and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in Iranian pregnant women. This randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 52 primigravida p regnant women aged 18-35 years old in the third trimester during 2012. After a 2-week run-in period, s ubjects were randomly allocated to consume either synbiotic (n=26) or control Gaz (n=26) for 9 weeks. Each gram synbiotic Gaz consisted of a probiotic Lactobacillus sporogenes (1×107 CFU), 0.04 g inulin as prebiotic with 0.38 g isomalt, 0.36 g sorbitol and 0.05 g stevia as sweetener. Control Gaz (the same substance without probiotic bacteria and inulin) was packed in identical 9-gram packages. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin function and serum hs-CRP levels were measured at baseline and after a 9- week intervention. Data were analyzed using independent sample T-test, paired T-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. The following changes were statistically significant compared with the control group: decrease in insulin levels (-0.26 vs. 6.34 µIU/mL, P=0.014) and HOMA-IR (-0.13 vs. 1.13, P=0.033), difference in HOMA-B (5.30 vs. 34.22, P=0.040) and increase in QUICKI (0.002 vs. -0.02, P=0.022). The differences for FPG and hs-CRP levels were not statistically significant. With regards to the results, consumption of synbiotic Gaz for 9 weeks had beneficial effects on insulin function among pregnant women, but did not affect FPG and serum hs-CRP levels.