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Study aim
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Investigating the effectiveness of synbiotic supplements on micronutrient status, gastrointestinal function, metabolic markers including lipid and glucose profiles, weight loss indicators, and quality of life in patients who have undergone Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery.
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Design
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Phase 3 randomized controlled clinical trial with a parallel-group, double-blind design, conducted on 76 patients. The patients are randomly assigned into two groups using block randomization with the help of the RAND function in Excel.
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Settings and conduct
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The study, conducted at Shariati hospital in Tehran, will evaluate patients before the intervention, 3 months after starting, and 3 months after completion. Group assignments are randomized, and known only to the product distributor.
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Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
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This study includes adults aged 18-65 with class 3 obesity or class 2 obesity with an obesity-related condition who have undergone Sleeve Gastrectomy within the past month and are willing to participate. Individuals with a history of nutritional deficiencies, irreversible effects from such deficiencies, or factors interfering with study outcomes will be excluded.
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Intervention groups
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Intervention: BioGen®, containing strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bifidobacterium longum (a total of 10⁹ CFU/sachet), combined with 4 grams of inulin every 12 hours for 3 months.
Control: starch.
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Main outcome variables
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Micronutrients (including serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, serum vitamin B12, serum Folate, total serum Calcium, serum Iron, TIBC, and Ferritin); gastrointestinal function (GIQLI questionnaire); lipid profile (total cholesterol, TG, LDL, and HDL); glycemic profile (FBS and HbA1C); weight loss indicators (%EWL and %TWL); and quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire).