Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40217252›Full record

SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025

Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Wenjuan Sun, Zexiang Zhuang, Li Yang, Jie Zhou, Linan Zhang, Junhua Yuan

Registry-linked trialAbstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07770893 (Acupoint Embedding Combined With Laser Acupuncture for Obesity), which is not on this map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT07770893 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Acupoint Embedding Combined With Laser Acupuncture for Obesity: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham Laser-Controlled Trial Evaluating Anthropometric, Biochemical, and Hemodynamic Outcomes

TypeinterventionalSponsorTaipei City HospitalRan2026 to 2028Enrolled120ConditionsObesity, Obesity, Abdominal, OverweightArmsAcupoint catgut embedding, Active laser acupuncture, Sham laser acupuncture, Dietary and exercise counseling
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
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

6 authors.

Wenjuan Sun *Health Management Center, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Zexiang Zhuang *Gariatric Ward, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Li YangRehabilitation Department, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Jie ZhouNursing Department, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Linan ZhangNursing Department, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Junhua YuanDepartment of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China. yuanjunhua322@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis meta-analysis is aimed to verify the effectiveness and safety of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on body measurements, metabolic indicators, and inflammation indicators in obese patients across randomized controlled trials with various comparators.

methodsFrom the inception of databases to January 5, 2025, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, OVID, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Two reviewers independently performed the search, extracted data, and assessed study quality based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.4 software. The reporting and quality assessment of this review study was guided by the PRISMA and AMSTAR.

resultsEleven RCTs with a total of 569 patients were included in meta-analysis. The pooled data revealed that PBM demonstrated significantly improvements in body anthropometric measurements, such as waistline [MD = - 7.28, 95% CI (- 9.97 to - 5.67), p < 0.00001], weight [MD = - 3.54, 95% CI (- 5.97 to - 1.11), p < 0.00001], BMI [MD = - 1.18, 95% CI (- 1.93 to - 0.43), p = 0.002]. PBM also showed potential in the reduction of CRP [MD = - 0.99, 95% CI (- 1.17 to - 0.82), p < 0.00001], as well as in TC, and HOMA-IR, which is [MD = - 23.01, 95% CI (- 31.68 to - 14.35), p < 0.00001] and [MD = - 0.46, 95% CI (- 0.73 to - 0.20), p = 0.0007] respectively. No significant differences were found in reducing WHR [MD = - 0.05, 95% CI (- 0.1 to 0.00), p = 0.05], fat mass percentage [MD = - 0.28, 95% CI (- 1.25 to 0.69), p = 0.57] and insulin [MD = - 1.98, 95% CI (- 4.20 to 0.23), p = 0.08].

conclusionThe results of our study suggest that PBM may offer potential benefits for treating obesity, showing some improvements in key indicators such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, CRP, TC, and HOMA-IR compared to exercise, dietary changes, and sham PBM. However, further theoretical exploration of PBM is needed, and multi-center, large-scale trials with longer follow-up durations and demographic range are necessary to confirm and validate the findings of our study. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024532988.

Indexed as

Low-Level Light TherapyObesityHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAnthropometricsLow-level laser therapyMeta-analysisMetabolismObesityPhotobiomodulation

Identifiers

PMID40217252
PMCPMC11992763

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.