SynthesisBMJ open2021
Probiotic supplements and bone health in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 52 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of probiotic supplementation on bone health in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Pooled it
- Effects of 12-month probiotic supplementation on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in early postmenopausal females: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2026Trial
- A young child formula with Limosilactobacillus reuteri and GOS modulates gut microbiome and enhances bone and muscle development: a randomized trial.Nature communications · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Effect of Fermented Soymilk-Honey from Different Probiotics on Osteocalcin Level in Menopausal Women.Nutrients · 2021Trial
- The gut-bone axis: microbial metabolism and nutritional interventions for bone health.Gut microbes · 2026Review
- Impact of Menopause and Clinical Considerations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2026Article
- Benefits that Death Does Not Part: the Promise of Postbiotics for Bone Health.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Review
- Intestinal Epithelial-like Cells Stimulated by a Functional Food Ingredient Promote Lysyl Oxidase (LOX) Expression in Osteoblast Precursor Cells via BMP-1 Secretion.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Gut Microbiota Has the Potential to Improve Sarcopenic Obesity in Menopausal Women by Regulating Estrogen.International journal of women's health · 2026Review
- Gut microbiota orchestrates bone homeostasis: a multi-pathway network from intestine to skeleton.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Review
- The impact of probiotics and synbiotics supplementation on bone health; an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.SAGE open medicine · 2026Review
- Article
- The Effect ofJournal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Unlocking the Potential of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review on Research, Production, and Regulation of Probiotics.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2024Review
- The Brain-Gut-Bone Axis in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights, Challenges, and Future Prospects.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2024Review
- Bone equilibria and disruptions.Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America · 2024Article
- Article
- The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Orthopedic Surgery-a Narrative Review.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2024Review
- Current Management and Volar Locking Plate Fixation with Bone Cement Augmentation for Elderly Distal Radius Fractures-An Updated Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveOsteoporosis is a common disease in postmenopausal women. Several studies have analysed the associations between dietary supplementation with probiotics and bone health in postmenopausal women, but the results are still controversial. We conducted this meta-analysis to assess the effects of probiotics supplement on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers for postmenopausal women.
designSystematic review and meta-analysis.
methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from their inception to November 2020 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing probiotic supplements and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Study-specific risk estimates were combined using random-effect models.
resultsFive RCTs (n=497) were included. Probiotic supplements were associated with a significantly higher BMD in the lumbar spine (standardised mean difference, SMD=0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.44) than in control. There was no difference between probiotic supplements and BMD in hips (SMD=0.22, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.52). Collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide levels in the treatment groups were significantly lower than those of the placebo group (SMD=-0.34, 95% CI -0.60 to -0.09). In subgroup meta-analysis, levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin and tumour necrosis factor did not differ between the probiotic and placebo groups.
conclusionsWe conclude cautiously that supplementation with probiotics could increase lumbar BMD. More RCTs are recommended to validate or update these results.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.