Probiotics

Probiotics are microorganisms that can have a positive effect on health.

Quick Answer

What it is

Probiotics are microorganisms that can have a positive effect on health.

Key findings

  • Grade A: Abdominal Pain
  • Grade A: Appetite (Chemotherapy Side Effects)
  • Grade B: Blood glucose (Metabolic Health)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Probiotics

Quick Facts: Probiotics

  • Best Evidence:Grade A
  • Conditions Studied:44
  • Research Outcomes:215
  • Grade A Findings:3
  • Grade B Findings:10
  • Key Effect:Chemotherapy Side Effects
Outcomes by grade:
A3
B10
C9
D15
44 conditions Β· 215 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
A
Abdominal Pain
Moderate Improvement
9 studies
moderate↓Improves
?
Helicobacter Pylori Infection Signs
↑Improves
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Nausea Symptoms
12 studies
↓Improves
?
Adverse Events
9 studies
↓Improves
?
Vomiting
8 studies
↓Improves
?
Bloating
7 studies
↓Improves
?
Constipation Signs and Symptoms
6 studies
↓Improves
A
Abdominal Pain
Moderate Improvement
9 studies
moderate↓Improves
?
Helicobacter Pylori Infection Signs
↑Improves
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↑Worsens
?
Nausea Symptoms
12 studies
↑Worsens
?
Adverse Events
9 studies
↑Worsens
?
Vomiting
8 studies
↑Worsens
?
Bloating
7 studies
↑Worsens
?
Constipation Signs and Symptoms
6 studies
↑Worsens
A
Appetite
Moderate Increase
3 studies
moderate↑Worsens
?
Mucositis Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Bloating
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Constipation Signs and Symptoms
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Quality of Life
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
B
Abdominal Pain
Moderate Improvement
16 studies
moderate↓Improves
?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms
54 studies
↓Improves
?
Bloating
7 studies
↓Improves
?
Quality of Life
7 studies
↑Improves
B
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
6 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
6 studies
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
↑Improves
?
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
B
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
6 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
6 studies
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
3 studies
↓Improves
B
Cognition
Mixed effect
D
Attention
No effect
5 studies
none
?
Memory
6 studies
↑Improves
B
Asthma Symptoms
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Interleukin 4
7 studies
↑Improves
?
Lung Function
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin E
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
3 studies
↑Improves
B
Diarrhea Symptoms
Moderate Improvement
moderate↓Improves
?
Vomiting
4 studies
↓Improves
?
Fever
2 studies
↑Improves
B
Menopausal Symptoms
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Vaginal Dryness
2 studies
↑Improves
B
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Mixed effect
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Glutathione (GSH)
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Nitric Oxide
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
2 studies
↑Improves
B
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Mixed effect
?
Psoriasis Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Quality of Life
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies
↓Improves
B
Bloating
Mixed effect
3 studies
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Insulin
17 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
↓Improves
C
Depression Symptoms
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
↑Improves
?
Sleep Duration
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Sleep Latency
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Sleep Efficiency
2 studies
↑Improves
C
Depression Symptoms
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Sleep Quality
↑Improves
?
Sleep Duration
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Sleep Latency
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Sleep Efficiency
2 studies
↑Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
↓Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
1 study
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Liver Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Liver Fibrosis
1 study
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
C
Body Fat
Small Decrease
small↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Visceral Fat
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Hip Circumference
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
1 study
↑Improves
C
Cognition
Mixed effect
?
Sleep Quality
↑Improves
C
Body Fat
Small Decrease
small↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Visceral Fat
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Hip Circumference
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
1 study
↑Improves
C
Body Fat
Small Decrease
small↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Hip Circumference
1 study
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
1 study
↑Improves
?
Waist circumference
1 study
↓Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Glutathione (GSH)
1 study
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
1 study
↑Improves
D
Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms
No effect
5 studies
none
?
Lung Function
↑Improves
?
Fecal Calprotectin
↑Improves
?
Quality of Life
1 study
↑Improves
D
Attention
No effect
5 studies
none
?
Cognition
↑Improves
?
Memory
6 studies
↑Improves
D
Attention
No effect
5 studies
none
?
Cognition
↑Improves
?
Memory
6 studies
↑Improves
D
Body Mass Index (BMI)
No effect
3 studies
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Visceral Fat
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3 studies
↓Improves
D
Allergic Disease Risk
No effect
3 studies
none
?
Eczema Symptoms
↓Improves
D
Body Mass Index (BMI)
No effect
3 studies
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Visceral Fat
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3 studies
↓Improves
D
Allergic Disease Risk
No effect
3 studies
none
?
Eczema Symptoms
↓Improves
D
Height
No effect
3 studies
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
1 study
↑Worsens
D
Hair Regrowth
No effect
none
?
Microbiome
1 study
↑Improves
D
Migraine Duration
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Migraine Frequency
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Migraine Severity
2 studies
↓Improves
D
Body Mass Index (BMI)
No effect
2 studies
none
?
Osteoarthritis Symptoms
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Pain
3 studies
↓Improves
D
Beta-cell function
No effect
2 studies
none
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Insulin
7 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
4 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
4 studies
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
4 studies
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
D
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
No effect
1 study
none
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
↑Improves
?
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
D
All-Cause Mortality
No effect
none
?
Pre-Eclampsia Risk
11 studies
↑Worsens
?
Dental Health Metrics
↑Improves
?
Dental Health Metrics
↑Improves
?
Serum BDNF
↑Improves
?
Bacterial Vaginosis Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Gestational Diabetes Risk
↑Worsens
?
Mucositis Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Autism Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Mucositis Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Bone Mineral Density
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Vaginal Infection Risk
↑Worsens

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

AChemotherapy Side Effects
1
↑AppetiteWorsens↓Mucositis SymptomsImproves↓Diarrhea SymptomsImproves
AH. Pylori Infection
1
↓Abdominal PainImproves↑Helicobacter Pylori Infection SignsImproves↑Diarrhea SymptomsWorsens
BCystic Fibrosis
2
Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms↑Lung FunctionImproves↑Fecal CalprotectinImproves
BFood Allergy
2
Allergic Disease Risk↓Eczema SymptomsImproves
BAsthma
1
↓Asthma SymptomsImproves↑Interleukin 4Improves↑Lung FunctionImproves
BMetabolic Health
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓HbA1cImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
BAcute Gastroenteritis
1
↓Diarrhea SymptomsImproves↓VomitingImproves↑FeverImproves
BCoronary Artery Disease (CAD)
1
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)↓Oxidative Stress BiomarkersImproves↑Glutathione (GSH)Improves
BIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
1
↓Abdominal PainImproves↓Irritable Bowel Syndrome SymptomsImproves↓BloatingImproves
BMenopause
1
↓Menopausal SymptomsImproves↑Vaginal DrynessImproves
BPsoriasis
1
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)↓Psoriasis SymptomsImproves↑Quality of LifeImproves
BColorectal Cancer
1
Bloating↓Diarrhea SymptomsImproves
BAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
1
↓Autism SymptomsImproves
BPeriodontitis
1
↑Dental Health MetricsImproves
CDepression
1
↓Depression SymptomsImproves↑Sleep QualityImproves↑Sleep DurationImproves
CInsomnia
1
↓Depression SymptomsImproves↑Sleep QualityImproves↑Sleep DurationImproves
CNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves↓Insulin ResistanceImproves
COverweight
1
↓Body FatImproves↓WeightImproves↓Waist circumferenceImproves
CStress
1
Cognition↑Sleep QualityImproves
CWeight Loss & Maintenance
1
↓Body FatImproves↓WeightImproves↓Waist circumferenceImproves

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