What does this research mean for the field?

Probiotic and symbiotic supplementation significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels in individuals with overweight or obesity, with symbiotics demonstrating a greater lipid-lowering effect. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

May 16, 2026

Effect of Probiotic and Symbiotic Supplementation on Lipid Parameters in Individuals With Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Key Points

Evaluate the effects of probiotic and symbiotic supplementation on lipid parameters in individuals with overweight and obesity.
Systematic search of electronic databases including PubMed and Cochrane Library for RCTs up to April 2023.
Risk of bias assessed using Cochrane tool (RoB 2) and certainty of evidence assessed via GRADE methodology.
Included 28 out of 1363 articles in the meta-analysis.
Probiotics and symbiotics significantly reduced total cholesterol by MD = -0.09 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.16, -0.03).
LDL levels decreased by MD = -0.06 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.12, -0.01) and triglycerides by MD = -0.05 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.10, -0.01).
No significant effect on HDL levels (MD = 0.01 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.03), with symbiotics showing a greater reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotic and symbiotic supplementation on lipid parameters in individuals with overweight and obesity to elucidate the aspects involved in this topic. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct electronic databases were systematically searched for RCTs up to April 2023. The risk of bias was evaluated using the updated version of the Cochrane tool for assessing bias risk in randomized trials (RoB 2). The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The review was registered in PROSPERO under the number: CRD42023442133. RESULTS: Of the 1363 articles identified in the search, 28 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Data analysis showed a significant effect of probiotics and symbiotics in reducing total cholesterol (MD = -0.09 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.03), LDL (MD = -0.06 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.12, -0.01), and triglycerides (MD = -0.05 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.10, -0.01) levels, but no significant effect on HDL (MD = 0.01 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.03) levels compared to the control group. In subgroup analyses, symbiotics showed a greater reduction in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that probiotic and symbiotic supplementation can reduce total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels in individuals with overweight or obesity, with a greater effect observed for symbiotic supplementation.

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