Background: Individual clinical trials suggested that when treated with probiotic foods or supplements with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, specific symptoms of metabolic syndrome (MetS) could be alleviated, but the results have been inconclusive. Aims: The objective of the present meta-analysis was to use anthropometric and biochemical as indicators to evaluate the efficacy of using these probiotic foods or supplements among individuals with MetS. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL Plus were used to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies published from January 2000 to January 2018. Studies were included if they had at least one of the following outcome measurements: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BFP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and/or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Results: The 356 records were identified during the literature search, of which only 18 met the selection criteria. The 18 RCTs with a total of 1,544 participants were included in this analysis. This meta-analysis indicated that there were no significant differences of BMI, BFM, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, SBP, DBP, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, TC, HDL-C, HbA1c, or triglycerides between the intervention and control groups. Significant standardized mean net differences were found in the BFP and LDL-C between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions: The results indicated that probiotic food and supplement with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium could be used as interventions to improve specific anthropometric and biochemical outcomes among individuals with MetS. However, probiotic treatment alone could not reduce overall health risks. In addition, there were methodological drawbacks among reviewed studies, and further research is needed.

Keywords:
Metabolic syndrome, Probiotics, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Anthropometric change
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel
2019
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.