Metformin is a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes , but its use is often limited by gastrointestinal side effects, especially in women with elevated HOMA-IR. To address this, a study evaluated whether a multi-strain probiotic could enhance metformin’s metabolic benefits and reduce GI adverse effects in 30 women aged 25–45 years with newly identified insulin resistance. The study found that probiotic supplementation significantly reduced gastrointestinal side effects compared with placebo, including abnormal stool consistency during abdominal pain (26% vs 52%), abnormal stool frequency (18% vs 51%), and hard stools (14% vs 26%).
However, no additional metabolic or anthropometric benefits were observed, as both groups showed similar improvements in fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, retinal binding protein (RBP4), and total cholesterol, indicating effects were primarily due to metformin. These…
