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Inadequate sleep (i.e., duration and/or quality) is becoming increasingly recognized as a global public health issue. Interaction via the gut-brain axis suggests that modification of the gut microbial environment via supplementation with live microorganisms (probiotics) or nonviable microorganisms/microbial cell fractions (paraprobiotics) may improve sleep health. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the effect of consuming probiotics/paraprobiotics on subjective and objective sleep metrics. Online databases were searched from 1980 to October 2019 for studies involving adults who consumed probiotics or paraprobiotics in controlled trials, during which, changes in subjective and/or objective sleep parameters were examined. A total of 14 studies (20 trials) were included in meta-analysis. Random effects meta-analyses indicated that probiotics/paraprobiotics supplementation significantly reduced Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (i.e., improved sleep quality) relative to baseline (-0.78-points, 95% confidence interval: 0.395-1.166; p < 0.001). No significant effect was found for changes on other subjective sleep scales, nor objective parameters of sleep (efficiency/latency) measured using polysomnography or actigraphy. Subgroup analysis for PSQI data suggested that the magnitude of the effect was greater (although not statistically) in healthy participants than those with a medical condition, when treatment contained a single (rather than multiple) strain of probiotic bacteria, and when the duration of treatment was [greater than or equal to]8 weeks. Probiotics/paraprobiotics supplementation may have some efficacy in improving perceived sleep health, measured using the PSQI. While current evidence does not support a benefit of consuming probiotics/paraprobiotics when measured by other subjective sleep scales, nor objective measures of sleep; more studies using well-controlled, within-subject experimental designs are needed., Author(s): Christopher Irwin [sup.1] [sup.2] , Danielle McCartney [sup.3] , Ben Desbrow [sup.1] , Saman Khalesi [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia [...]

This study aimed to systematically review randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to clarify the effects of pro-/synbiotic supplementation on anthropometric and biochemical measurements in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched through September 2018. Eight RCTs (nine treatment arms) were included. Pro-/synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood sugar (-2.52 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.10 to -0.95), insulin (-2.27 [micro]IU/mL, 95% CI: -3.40 to -1.14), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (-0.69, 95% CI: -0.98 to -0.40), C-reactive protein (-1.69 Hedges', 95% CI: -3.00 to -0.38), and total testosterone (-0.12 ng/mL, 95% CI: -0.17 to -0.08) in women with PCOS. However, changes in the mean difference of weight and body mass index did not reach a statistically significant level. The findings suggest that pro-/synbiotic supplementation may improve glucose homeostasis parameters, hormonal, and inflammatory indices in women with PCOS., Author(s): Amir Hadi [sup.1] , Sajjad Moradi [sup.2] [sup.3] , Abed Ghavami [sup.4] , Saman Khalesi [sup.5] , Marzieh Kafeshani [sup.6] Author Affiliations: (1) Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, [...]

Probiotic supplements have a positive impact on several health outcomes. However, the majority of published studies have focused on populations with specific health pathologies. Therefore, this study reviewed the current literature on the health effects of probiotic consumption in 'healthy adults.' The findings from this review may help guide consumers, researchers, and manufacturers regarding probiotic supplementation. Relevant literature published between 1990 and August 2017 was reviewed. Studies were included if they were experimental trials, included healthy adults, used live bacteria, and had accessible full-text articles published in English. Included studies were classified according to common foci that emerged. Forty-five studies were included in this review. Five foci emerged: gut microbiota changes (n = 15); immune system response (n = 16); lipid profile and cardiovascular disease risk (n = 14); gastrointestinal discomfort (n = 11); and female reproductive health (n = 4). Results suggest that probiotic supplementation in healthy adults can lead to transient improvement in gut microbiota concentration of supplement-specific bacteria. Evidence also supports the role of probiotics in improving immune system responses, stool consistency, bowel movement, and vaginal lactobacilli concentration. There is insufficient evidence to support the role of probiotics to improve blood lipid profile. Probiotic consumption can improve in the immune, gastrointestinal, and female reproductive health systems in healthy adults. However, this review failed to support the ability of probiotics to cause persistent changes in gut microbiota, or improve lipid profile in healthy adults. The feasibility of probiotics consumption to provide benefits in healthy adults requires further investigation., Author(s): Saman Khalesi [sup.1] , Nick Bellissimo [sup.2] , Corneel Vandelanotte [sup.1] , Susan Williams [sup.1] , Dragana Stanley [sup.3] , Christopher Irwin [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) Physical Activity Research [...]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worsening of mental health and health behaviors. While physical activity is positively associated mental health, there is limited understanding of how mental health and physical activity evolve throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine changes in depression, anxiety and stress and physical activity, and associations between depression, anxiety, and stress with physical activity in Australian adults across three-time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: This study collected both longitudinal and cross-sectional data at three-time points during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (i.e., April, July/August, and December 2020). Australians aged 18 years and over were invited to complete online surveys hosted on Qualtrics survey platform. Linear mixed models with random subject effect and general linear models were used to analyze the longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data respectively. Results: The number of participants in cross-sectional surveys and longitudinal surveys was 1,877 and 849, respectively. There was an overall reduction between time 2 vs. time 3 in depression (d = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.20, 1.85), anxiety (d = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.02, 1.12), and stress (d = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.21, 2.04) scores but no significant differences in physical activity across threetime points. On average, participants who met the physical activity guidelines had lower depression (d = -2.08, 95% CI = -2.90, -1.26), anxiety (d = -0.88, 95% CI = -1.41, -0.34), and stress (d = -1.35, 95% CI = -2.13, -0.56) scores compared to those not meeting the guidelines. Conclusion: In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both governments and service providers should continue to provide the public with timely mental health support and promote the benefits of physical activity, as a cost-effective strategy to improve mental health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]