Probiotics act as a potent intervention in improving lipid profile: An umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis

Several meta-analysis studies have revealed improving effects of probiotics on lipid profile, while some studies have reported controversial findings. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on blood lipids. Relevant studies were searched in the international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Library up to August 2021. The pooled results were calculated with the use of a random-effects model to assess the effects of probiotics on blood lipids. Overall, 38 meta-analyses were inclueded in the study. The results indicated that the probiotics supplementation was effective on reduction of total cholesterol (TC) (ES= −0.46 mg/dL; 95% CI: −0.61, −0.30, p < 0.001; I2= 83.8%, p < 0.001), triglycerides (TG) (ES= −0.13 mg/dl; 95% CI: −0.23, −0.04, p = 0.006; I2= 74.7%, p < 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)levels (ES= −0.29 mg/dL; 95% CI: −0.40, −0.19, p < 0.001; I2= 77.8%, p < 0.001). There was no significant effect of probiotics on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (ES= 0.02 mg/dl; 95% CI: −0.04, 0.08, p = 0.519; I2= 72.5%, p= <0.001). The results of present umbrella meta-analysis strongly support supplementation with probiotics as an influential intervention for improving lipid profile.