Objective: Despite the increasing evidence for probiotics' anti-inflammatory effects, the results of meta-analyses remain inconsistent. The present umbrella meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers.
Methods: We performed a wide-ranging systematic search in several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar up to April 2023. The overall effect sizes were calculated using effect size (ES) values and their corresponding confidence intervals (CI).
Results: Out of a total of 580 related articles, 39 studies were qualified for inclusion in the analysis. The results of the analysis revealed a significant reduction of C-reactive protein (CRP) (ES = -1.02; 95% CI: -1.23, -0.80, p < 0.001; I2: 94.1%, p < 0.001), TNF-α (ES = -0.35; 95% CI: -0.50, -0.20, p < 0.001; I2: 75.6%, p < 0.001), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (ES = -0.36; 95% CI: -0.59, -0.13, p = 0.002; I2: 85.6%, p < 0.001), following probiotic supplementation.
Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced serum concentrations of TNF-a, CRP, and IL-6. Thus, probiotic supplementation can be considered adjuvant therapy to alleviate inflammation in various inflammatory conditions.
Keywords: Cytokines; Inflammation; Probiotics; Umbrella meta-analysis.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.