Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28575095›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2017

Probiotics for prevention of radiation-induced diarrhea: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Meng-Meng Liu, Shu-Ting Li, Yan Shu, He-Qin Zhan

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
7.7field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 109 citations in OpenAlex.

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  5. Systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the efficacy and safety of probiotics in people with cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2018
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  9. Gut microbes · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Meng-Meng LiuDepartment of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, Anhui Province, China.
Shu-Ting LiDepartment of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, Anhui Province, China.
Yan ShuDepartment of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, Anhui Province, China.
He-Qin ZhanDepartment of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, Anhui Province, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9920-1990
Anhui Medical University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRadiotherapy is commonly used for abdominal or pelvic cancer, and patients receiving radiotherapy have a high risk developing to an acute radiation-induced diarrhea. Several previous studies have discussed the effect of probiotics on prevention of radiation-induced diarrhea, but the results are still inconsistent.

objectiveWe performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic supplementation for prevention the radiation-induced diarrhea.

methodsRelevant RCTs studies assessing the effect of probiotic supplementation on clinical outcomes compared with placebo were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases (up to March 30 2016). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 and H2, and publication bias was evaluated using sensitive analysis.

resultsSix trials, a total of 917 participants (490 participants received prophylactic probiotics and 427 participants received placebo), were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, probiotics were associated with a lower incidence of radiation-induced diarrhea (RR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.34-0.88; P = 0.01; I2: 87%; 95% CI: 75%-94%; H2: 2.8; 95% CI: 2.0-4.0). However, there is no significant difference in the anti-diarrheal medication use (RR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.40-1.14; P = 0.14) or bristol scale on stool form (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.35-1.17; P = 0.14).

conclusionProbiotics may be beneficial to prevent radiation-induced diarrhea in patients who suffered from abdominal or pelvic cancers during radiotherapy period.

Indexed as

AntidiarrhealsDiarrheaHumansIncidencePelvic NeoplasmsProbioticsPublication BiasRadiotherapyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAntidiarrheals

Identifiers

PMID28575095
PMCPMC5456391
OpenAlexW2621056634

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.