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. 2023 Feb 6;18(2):e0277213. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277213

Table 3. Primary and secondary outcomes before and after the intervention in synbiotic and placebo groups.

Variable Before After Change P-value1
Thyroid Hormones Free T4 (μg/dl) Synbiotic (n = 26) 9.47 ± 2.97 12.05 ± 3.96 2.43 ± 5.03 0.03
Placebo (n = 25) 10.59 ± 3.62 13.63 ± 6.75 2.87 ± 5.80 0.02
P-value 2 0.22 0.33 0.88
P-value 3 0.75
TSH (μIU/ml) Synbiotic (n = 26) 1.73 ± 1.29 1.49 ± 1.14 -0.05 ± 0.74 0.74
Placebo (n = 25) 2.27 ± 1.86 2.17 ± 1.74 -0.05 ±1.95 0.87
P-value 2 0.23 0.12 0.99
P-value 3 0.39
Depression Total Depression Synbiotic (n = 26) 16.11 ± 8.45 15.58 ± 9.52 -1.15 ± 5.04 0.25
Placebo (n = 25) 15.11 ± 9.50 15.52 ± 8.29 0.04 ± 6.25 0.97
P-value 2 0.68 0.98 0.46
P-value 3 0.11
Somatic Synbiotic (n = 26) 11.77 ± 6.51 10.42 ± 6.50 -1.35 ± 4.33 0.13
Placebo (n = 25) 11.64 ± 6.82 11.48 ± 5.85 -0.16 ± 4.23 0.85
P-value 2 0.95 0.54 0.33
P-value 3 0.15
Affective Synbiotic (n = 26) 4.96 ± 3.28 3.84 ± 3.89 0.19 ± 1.90 0.61
Placebo (n = 25) 5.15 ± 3.78 4.04 ± 3.35 0.20 ± 2.91 0.73
P-value 2 0.35 0.27 0.99
P-value 3 0.27
Quality of life Physical Function Synbiotic (n = 26) 64.46 ± 23.54 74.81 ± 21.52 9.61 ± 22.13 0.36
Placebo (n = 25) 74.29 ± 23.08 69.62 ± 25.86 -2.60 ± 20.92 0.54
P-value 2 0.12 0.44 0.051
P-value 3 0.18
Role Limiting Physical Function Synbiotic (n = 26) 55.36 ± 43.76 69.60 ± 25.86 17.31 ± 41.09 0.04
Placebo (n = 25) 72.32 ± 34.92 65.00 ± 37.50 -4.00 ± 34.37 0.57
P-value 2 0.11 0.68 0.053
P-value 3 0.14
Role Limiting Emotional Function Synbiotic (n = 26) 48.51 ± 42.67 53.52 ± 41.91 5.13 ± 60.14 0.67
Placebo (n = 25) 67.26 ± 38.62 60.67 ± 39.93 -2.67 ± 41.85 0.75
P-value 2 0.09 0.54 0.60
P-value 3 0.60
Vitality Synbiotic (n = 26) 55.36 ± 19.00 58.65 ± 17.51 3.60 ± 13.13 0.17
Placebo (n = 25) 59.15 ± 20.37 53.25 ± 23.18 -4.25 ± 12.06 0.09
P-value 2 0.47 0.35 0.03
P-value 3 0.07
Perceived Mental Health Synbiotic (n = 26) 57.36 ± 22.16 60.58 ± 19.15 4.81 ± 13.75 0.09
Placebo (n = 25) 59.15 ± 20.37 55.00 ± 21.11 -2.80 ± 12.08 0.26
P-value 2 0.71 0.33 0.04
P-value 3 0.02
Social Function Synbiotic (n = 26) 56.70 ± 23.93 65.86 ± 18.22 7.69 ± 23.47 0.11
Placebo (n = 25) 74.73 ± 22.75 74.30 ± 23.12 0.60 ± 20.50 0.88
P-value 2 0.01 0.15 0.26
P-value 3 0.15
Pain Synbiotic (n = 26) 57.41 ± 24.22 63.27 ± 23.77 8.27 ± 21.07 0.052
Placebo (n = 25) 71.43 ± 28.36 65.90 ± 26.91 -3.30 ± 18.39 0.38
P-value 2 0.005 0.71 0.04
P-value 3 0.02
General Health Perception Synbiotic (n = 26) 55.18 ± 19.36 62.69 ± 15.89 7.88 ± 14.43 0.01
Placebo (n = 25) 64.29 ± 19.71 58.60 ± 18.23 -4.20 ± 12.64 0.11
P-value 2 0.09 0.40 0.003
P-value 3 0.002
Health Change Synbiotic (n = 26) 50.89 ± 24.04 59.62 ± 23.53 9.61 ± 30.88 0.12
Placebo (n = 25) 47.32 ± 24.85 46.00 ± 23.58 1.00 ± 13.46 0.71
P-value 2 0.59 0.04 0.21
P-value 3 0.59
Blood pressure SBP (mmHg) Synbiotic (n = 26) 120.89 ± 12.77 118.46 ± 9.14 -2.50 ± 6.36 0.05
Placebo (n = 25) 124.07 ± 11.52 123.65 ± 9.33 -0.60 ± 4.41 0.50
P-value 2 0.34 0.05 0.22
P-value 3 0.44
DBP (mmHg) Synbiotic (n = 26) 78.21 ± 8.95 75.96 ± 6.33 -2.11 ± 5.51 0.06
Placebo (n = 25) 80.38 ± 8.36 81.35 ± 10.15 1.20 ± 8.45 0.48
P-value 2 0.36 0.03 0.10
P-value 3 0.28

1: within group comparison, paired t-test

2: between group comparison, independent t-test

3: two-way ANCOVA analysis with adjustment for duration of hypothyroidism, age, levothyroxine dose, and physical activity