Effects of the oral probiotics to control pain and stress disorders of cyclical mastalgia associated with fibrocystic breast changes; a randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background: Breast fibrocystic changes (FCC) is the most common benign breast lesion among females in productive age. Cyclical pain is the most common symptom of the lesion which decreases life quality and worsens stress disorders of sufferers. The study aimed to evaluate effects of oral probiotics to confront such pain and stress among females. Method: In this randomised, double-blind controlled trial finally 50 eligible women with cyclical mastalgia due to the FCC aged between 18 and 40 years were enrolled. They were allocated in placebo and probiotic receivers. Subjects in the latter received a daily capsule containing of 2 × 10 9 colony forming units of probiotic microorganisms. Patients underwent a 12 weeks survey. The Visual analog scaling instrument was applied to measure pain severity. Blood samples were sent to evaluate hs-CRP, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde and total plasma gluthation. Stress disorders including of depression, anxiety and sleep quality also were investigated by standard relative questionnaires. Results: Probiotic receivers showed meaningful decrease in cyclical mastalgia (p < 0.01) after 12 weeks probiotic consumption. Additionally plasma level of hs-CRP (p = 0.03) decreased concurrently with significant increase in TAC (p = 0.04) level among probiotic receivers. Probiotics helped better recovery from depressive symptoms although influenced positively neither anxiety nor sleep quality. Conclusion: This study showed that oral probiotic consumption should be considered to control the pain in cyclical mastalgia contributing to FCC of the breast. Highlights