Probiotics

In 74 primiparous women, Lactobacillus casei 431 for 14 days after episiotomy improved wound healing scores versus placebo at 5 and 15 days postpartum.

A meta-analysis of 9 pediatric RCTs found Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduced functional abdominal pain intensity (MD −1.24) and increased pain-free days versus placebo.

In 46 children with functional abdominal pain, L. reuteri DSM 17938 10^8 CFU/day for 12 weeks reduced pain severity and increased pain-free days versus placebo in this RCT.

In 54 children with functional abdominal pain, both L. reuteri and placebo significantly reduced pain frequency and intensity at 4 and 8 weeks; L. reuteri also cut rescue medication use.

In 20 adults with functional abdominal pain, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM alone increased colonic mu-opioid receptor expression; symptom improvements trended but were underpowered.

A meta-analysis of 12 ASD RCTs (n=630) found borderline improvement in core autism symptoms with probiotics (MD −0.21, 95% CI −0.39 to −0.03).

In 60 children with ASD, Bacteroides fragilis BF839 20 g/day for 16 weeks improved ABC body-and-object-use scores and GI symptoms versus placebo.

A meta-analysis of 8 ASD RCTs (n=318, ages 1.5–20 years) found probiotic intervention significantly improved behavioral symptoms versus control.

A meta-analysis of 12 trials in 3086 malnourished children found probiotics/prebiotics/synbiotics may increase weight 0.33 kg but evidence certainty was low.

A meta-analysis of 14 studies found probiotic supplementation reduced all-grade chemotherapy diarrhea (RR 0.40) and nausea, bloating, and anorexia versus control.

A meta-analysis of 12 studies (n=1055) found probiotics reduced severe oral mucositis in cancer patients (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.28–0.50).

A meta-analysis of 8 colorectal cancer chemoradiotherapy RCTs (n=633) found probiotics halved diarrhea incidence (RR 0.51) and improved pain, dyspnea, and insomnia scores.

A meta-analysis of 10 Chinese pediatric trials (n=1125) found Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 shortened acute diarrhea duration and raised treatment effectiveness versus control.

In 82 adults on amoxicillin, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 2×10^9 CFU/day for 14 days shortened diarrhea duration versus placebo, though AAD incidence reduction was not significant.

A 2024 meta-analysis of 13 pediatric food allergy RCTs found probiotics uncertain for eczema in cow's milk allergy but may aid tolerance induction after ≥2 years with LGG strain.

A meta-analysis of 14 pregnancy RCTs (n=3527) found probiotics reduced gestational diabetes incidence (RR 0.71) mainly in women with BMI <26 kg/m² and age <30 years.

A meta-analysis of 8 HNC RCTs (n=691) found probiotics reduced severe oral mucositis incidence (RR 0.60) with greater benefit from multi-strain formulations.

A meta-analysis of 19 H. pylori trials (n=5036) found Saccharomyces boulardii adjuvant therapy raised eradication rate and reduced diarrhea and other adverse effects.

A network meta-analysis of 91 H. pylori RCTs (n=13,680) found adding probiotics increased eradication (OR 1.62 ITT) and reduced diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bad taste.

In 257 women on H. pylori quadruple therapy, L. plantarum MH-301 for 14 days reduced bloating, constipation, and vaginal discharge versus placebo without changing eradication rate.

A network meta-analysis of 54 IBS RCTs found probiotics (OR 0.53) and fecal microbiota transplant (OR 0.46) improved symptoms versus placebo; prebiotics/synbiotics did not.

A meta-analysis of 8 obesity RCTs (n=412) found probiotic supplementation significantly reduced body weight and waist circumference versus control.

A meta-analysis of 15 NAFLD RCTs (n=899) found probiotics improved ALT, HOMA-IR, and insulin but not lipids, glucose, or inflammatory markers significantly.

A network meta-analysis of 37 NAFLD RCTs (n=1921) found probiotics and synbiotics significantly lowered ALT and liver stiffness measurement versus control.

In 100 adults, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKO-001 for 12 weeks lowered body fat percentage, fat mass, LDL cholesterol, and adiponectin versus placebo without serious adverse events.

A meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=488) found probiotics did not significantly improve depression scores in obese adults versus placebo (MD 0.08, p=0.82).

A meta-analysis of 24 periodontal/gingivitis trials found probiotics lowered plaque index in periodontitis (p=0.001) and bleeding on probing in gingivitis, with mixed pocket depth results.

A meta-analysis of 5 knee osteoarthritis RCTs (n=694) found oral probiotics reduced pain VAS and WOMAC scores and hs-CRP versus control.

A meta-analysis of 8 prediabetes RCTs found probiotic supplementation lowered HbA1c −0.07% versus placebo without significant effects on lipids or BMI.

In 100 pregnant women, oral multi-strain probiotics until delivery did not reduce vulvovaginal infection rate versus placebo (29% vs 27%, p=0.80).

A meta-analysis of 7 psoriasis RCTs found probiotics lowered PASI scores (MD −3.09, p=0.01) and CRP versus placebo, with similar adverse event rates.

A meta-analysis of 19 liver surgery RCTs (n=1698) evaluated perioperative probiotics for infection outcomes after liver resection or transplantation.

A GRADE meta-analysis of 32 type 2 diabetes RCTs found probiotics lowered fasting glucose −13.27 mg/dL, HbA1c −0.44%, insulin, and HOMA-IR versus control.

A meta-analysis of 10 probiotic RCTs in MCI/AD found no significant overall cognitive benefit on MMSE (SMD 0.28, p=0.38) or MoCA (SMD 0.51, p=0.33).

A meta-analysis of 12 asthma RCTs (n=1401) found probiotics improved asthma control test scores (OR 1.18, p=0.0001) but not pooled FeNO or eosinophils significantly.

In 55 diabetic retinopathy patients, multi-strain probiotics for 12 weeks lowered insulin and raised QUICKI insulin sensitivity versus placebo without changing other metabolic markers.

In 115 androgenic alopecia patients, 16 weeks of Lactiplantibacillus probiotics reduced vellus hair density and increased terminal hair markers versus placebo.

In 104 Japanese adults with thinning hair, topical L. plantarum N793 for 24 weeks improved hair density versus placebo only in those with mild progression.

A meta-analysis of 22 migraine trials found alpha-lipoic acid reduced attack frequency by 1.24 and severity by 0.38 versus control, among several supplements showing prophylactic benefit.

In 55–65-year-old men, Limosilactobacillus reuteri supplementation for 12 weeks did not raise testosterone versus placebo, though high-dose reduced triglycerides.

A meta-analysis of 14 BV RCTs found probiotics plus antibiotics raised cure rate versus antibiotics alone (RR 1.23, p=0.009).

A meta-analysis of 13 cystic fibrosis RCTs (n=552) found probiotics lowered fecal calprotectin and IL-6/IL-8 but did not reduce exacerbations or improve FEV1 significantly.

A Cochrane review of 12 cystic fibrosis RCTs (n=464) found insufficient evidence that probiotics improve lung function or quality of life in CF.

A meta-analysis of 29 pregnancy RCTs (7735 women) found probiotics may not reduce preeclampsia risk (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.84–1.53; low certainty).

In 126 adults post-COVID, L. plantarum GCWB1001 for 12 weeks did not significantly improve BCSS respiratory symptom scores versus placebo.

A meta-analysis of 4 schizophrenia RCTs found probiotic supplementation significantly reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein versus placebo.

In 126 Japanese adults, Bifidobacterium adolescentis SBT2786 increased sleep duration and improved mood; stressed subgroup reported better sleepiness and daytime restfulness.

In 44 moderately stressed adults, a GABA-producing probiotic blend for 12 weeks reduced cognitive reactivity to negative mood without improving cognitive performance.