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Impact of Probiotic SYNBIO® Administered by Vaginal Suppositories in Promoting Vaginal Health of Apparently Healthy Women

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether vaginal administration of probiotic Lactobacillus results in their colonization and persistence in the vagina and whether it promotes normalization and maintenance of pH and Nugent score. A single-arm, open-label controlled towards the baseline (pre–post) study including 35 apparently healthy women was conducted. Each woman was examined three times during the study. Women were instructed to receive daily for 7 days, the probiotic suppositories SYNBIO® gin (Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501® and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502®). Vaginal swabs were collected during visit 1, 2, and 3 to determine the total lactobacilli count, the presence of the two administered bacteria, the measure of the pH, and the estimation of Nugent score. Evaluation of treatment tolerability was based on analysis of the type and occurrence of adverse events. The probiotic vaginal suppository was well tolerated and no side effects were reported. Intermediate Nugent score was registered in 40 % of women at visit 1 and these intermediate scores reverted to normal at day 7 (end of treatment) in 20 % of subjects. Administration of SYNBIO® gin contributed to a significant increase in the lactobacilli level at visit 2. Molecular typing revealed the presence of the two strains originating from SYNBIO® gin in 100 % of women at visit 2 and 34 % at visit 3. No significant changes were registered for pH between visits. The SYNBIO® gin product is safe for daily use in healthy women and it could be useful to restore and maintain a normal vaginal microbiota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Synbiotec S.r.l., Spin-off of UNICAM, Via Gentile III Da Varano, 62032, Camerino, Italy

    Maria Cristina Verdenelli, Cinzia Cecchini, Maria Magdalena Coman, Stefania Silvi, Carla Orpianesi & Alberto Cresci

  2. School of Advanced Studies, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

    Maria Magdalena Coman

  3. School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

    Stefania Silvi

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Giuliana Coata & Gian Carlo Di Renzo

Authors
  1. Maria Cristina Verdenelli
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  2. Cinzia Cecchini
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  3. Maria Magdalena Coman
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  4. Stefania Silvi
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  5. Carla Orpianesi
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  6. Giuliana Coata
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  7. Alberto Cresci
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  8. Gian Carlo Di Renzo
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Correspondence to Maria Cristina Verdenelli.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individuals participants included in the study.

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Verdenelli, M.C., Cecchini, C., Coman, M.M. et al. Impact of Probiotic SYNBIO® Administered by Vaginal Suppositories in Promoting Vaginal Health of Apparently Healthy Women. Curr Microbiol 73, 483–490 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-016-1085-x

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