Medscape Medical News: Gut Microbiome Is Less Diverse in Teens with Obesity and PCOS

Teens with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have decreased bacterial diversity and a more “unhealthy” gut microbiome compared to similar-sized teens without PCOS, according to a new study published online January 23 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

“We have for the first time demonstrated that obese adolescents with PCOS have an altered gut microbiome compared to girls without PCOS with similar body mass index (BMI), activity level, and dietary habits,” write Beza Jobira, MD, and colleagues.