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Cited by 22Reproductive tract infections researchProbiotics and Fermented FoodsGut microbiota and health

Efficacy and Safety of MED-01 Probiotics on Vaginal Health: A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

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Park, Sung-Ho, Lee, Eun Sil, Park, Sung Taek, Jeong, Soo Young, Yun, Yeoul, Kim, YongGyeong, Jeong, Yulah, Kang, Chang-Ho +1 more·2023·Nutrients
DOI 10.3390/nu15020331PMC PMC9863863
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Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common disease in women of childbearing age and is caused by the growth of abnormal microbiota in the vagina. Probiotic consumption can be an effective alternative treatment to preserve or improve vaginal health. In the present study, MED-01, a complex of five strains of probiotic candidates isolated from the vagina of Korean women, was used. This study was designed as a 12-week, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MED-01 on vaginal health. A total of 101 reproductive-aged women with a Nugent score of 4–6 took MED-01 (5.0 × 109 CFU) or a placebo once a day, and 76 participants completed the procedure. MED-01 significantly reduced the Nugent score compared with the placebo. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed that Lactobacillus plantarum was significantly increased in the vagina, whereas harmful bacteria such as Mobiluncus spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae were suppressed after 12 weeks of MED-01 ingestion. No adverse events to the test food supplements were observed in the participants. These results confirmed that MED-01 can be used as a probiotic for treating BV, as it improves the vaginal microbiota.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Park, S.-H., Lee, E. S., Park, S. T., Jeong, S. Y., Yun, Y., Kim, Y., Jeong, Y., Kang, C.-H., & Choi, H. J.
Affiliations
  • Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital (KR)
  • Soonchunhyang University (KR)
  • Mediogen, Co., Ltd., Biovalley 1-ro, Jecheon-si 27159, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
  • Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital (KR)
Corresponding author
Choi, Hyun Jin
ORCID
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-01-09
Volume
15
Issue
2
Pages
331
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/nu15020331
PMC
PMC9863863
OpenAlex
W4315491746
Cited by
22
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 2
FWCI
4.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Korea) (S2859861)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
bacterial vaginosis, probiotics, vaginal microbiota, Lactobacillus plantarum, Nugent score, Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus, probiotic supplementation, vaginal health, women of reproductive age
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Gardnerella vaginalis, Humans, Vagina, Vaginosis, Bacterial, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics

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