Menopause is a natural process, where ovaries produce less reproductive hormones, which degrades the quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy was used primarily to reduce menopausal symptoms but new therapies are needed because they have a risk in long-term use. Probiotics are well known for their beneficial effects on bowel health, obesity, and immunity, and they have been reported to have useful effects on menopause in recent years. This study examined the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus YT1 on menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Twelve weeks-old female SD rats were divided into five groups: (1) sham+DW, (2) OVX+DW, (3) OVX+estradiol (20 μg/kg), (4) OVX+L. acidophilus YT1 (3.7×105 CFU/mL/head/day), and (5) OVX+Lactobacillus reuteri (3.7×106 CFU/mL/head/day) that were treated once daily for 12 weeks after OVX. Pain sensitivity, depression-related behavior, and fat mass were significantly increased at 12 weeks after OVX and the bone mineral density was decreased. These menopause symptoms were significantly recovered by a daily oral treatment of L. acidophilus YT1 for 12 weeks. Overall, the treatment of L. acidophilus YT1 could alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as increased pain sensitivity, depression, body fat, and bone loss in menopausal women, which suggests it could be developed as a functional food and probiotics for elderly women health.

Keywords: menopause, Lactobacillus acidophilus YT1, pain sensitivity, bone mineral density, depression