Impact of Buzhong Yiqi Prescription on the Gut Microbiota of Patients with Obesity Manifesting Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Zhexin Ni; Wen Cheng; Jie Ding; Ruipin Yao; Danying Zhang; Dongxia Zhai; Ling Zhou; Chaoqin Yu

doi:10.1155/2021/6671367

Impact of Buzhong Yiqi Prescription on the Gut Microbiota of Patients with Obesity Manifesting Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Mar 15:2021:6671367. doi: 10.1155/2021/6671367. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Zhexin Ni¹, Wen Cheng^{1

2}, Jie Ding¹, Ruipin Yao¹, Danying Zhang¹, Dongxia Zhai¹, Ling Zhou¹, Chaoqin Yu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Traditional Chinese Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
² Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.

Abstract

Gut microbiota disorders are closely related to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Buzhong Yiqi prescription (BZYQ) has a significant clinical effect on the treatment of patients with obesity exhibiting PCOS and phlegm-dampness syndrome caused by spleen deficiency (SPSD). Hence, this study aimed to explore gut microbiota and fecal metabolite alterations in such patients treated with BZYQ. Fifty eligible patients with obesity manifesting PCOS and SPSD participated and agreed to undergo 3 months of BZYQ treatment. Results showed that BZYQ significantly alleviated the serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p < 0.001) and testosterone levels (p < 0.001) and markedly changed the gut microbiota structure in these patients. Furthermore, 106 differential fecal metabolites and 14 KEGG enrichment pathways were quantified. The phylum Spirochaetae and the genera [Eubacterium]_rectale_group, Escherichia-Shigella, and Fusicatenibacter were significantly more abundant, but Megamonas was significantly less abundant after treatment than before treatment. Disorders in the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites of these patients were closely related to hyperandrogenemia and insulin resistance. In conclusion, BZYQ could ameliorate the serum androgen level and had an impact on the gut microbiota and metabolites in patients with obesity manifesting PCOS and SPSD.