Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40647296›Full record

SynthesisNutrients2025

Impact of Probiotic/Synbiotic Supplementation on Post-Bariatric Surgery Anthropometric and Cardiometabolic Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Mohamed Saad Rakab, Rahma Mogahed Rateb, Alaa Maamoun, Nada Radwan, Abdalhakim Shubietah, AlMothana Manasrah, Islam Rajab, Giorgia Scichilone, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Abeer M Mahmoud

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing 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.

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

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
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

10 authors.

Mohamed Saad RakabFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Rahma Mogahed RatebFaculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71111, Egypt.
Alaa MaamounFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Nada RadwanFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Abdalhakim ShubietahAdvocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60657, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8300-0262
AlMothana ManasrahUnited Health Services, Wilson Medical Center, Johnson City, NY 13790, USA.ORCID 0009-0001-6266-4991
Islam RajabDepartment of Internal Medicine, St. Joseph's University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ 07503, USA.
Giorgia ScichiloneDepartment of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Lisa Tussing-HumphreysDepartment of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Abeer M MahmoudDepartment of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0295-6706

Funding

Role of Adiposomes in Diabetes-Associated Endothelial Dysfunction and Restorative Effects of Exercise and Metabolic SurgeryR01HL161386 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · PI Abeer M Mohamed · 2022 to 2026
$3.6M
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL161386NIH HHS 1R01HL161386-04
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesBariatric surgery improves weight and metabolic health in individuals with severe obesity; however, challenges like gut dysbiosis and nutrient deficiencies persist postoperatively. Probiotic supplementation may enhance recovery by modulating gut microbiota. This updated meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of probiotics/synbiotics on metabolic, anthropometric, and nutritional outcomes after bariatric surgery.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and CENTRAL through December 2024. Studies comparing probiotics/synbiotics (which contain both probiotics and prebiotics) versus a placebo in adults post-bariatric surgery were included. Meta-analyses were conducted, with subgroup analyses by surgery type, the timing of the intervention, and probiotic formulation (PROSPERO ID: CRD420251019199).

resultsThirteen RCTs involving 809 patients were included in the analysis. Probiotic use significantly reduced BMI (MD = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.00), HbA1c (MD = -0.19%, 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.01), triglycerides (MD = -16.56 mg/dL), and AST levels (MD = -3.68 U/L), while increasing ALP (MD = 8.12 U/L) and vitamin D (MD = 13.68 pg/mL). Ferritin levels were significantly lower (MD = -18.89 µg/L) in the probiotic group. A subgroup analysis showed enhanced benefits in patients undergoing mini-gastric bypass, with perioperative or synbiotic interventions specifically improving triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HbA1c.

conclusionsProbiotics may offer modest but significant improvements in BMI, glycemic control, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and vitamin D levels after bariatric surgery. These findings support the potential role of probiotics/synbiotics as an adjunct therapy, though further large-scale trials are warranted to confirm long-term benefits.

Indexed as

Bariatric SurgeryDietary SupplementsObesity, MorbidProbioticsSynbioticsAdultAnthropometryBody Mass IndexFemaleGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment Outcomebariatric surgerycardiometabolic outcomesgut microbiotaprobioticssynbiotics

Identifiers

PMID40647296
PMCPMC12251824

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.