Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41059033›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2025

Meta-analytical insight on probiotic metabolites and inflammatory markers in diabetes.

Yanpeng Xie, Yingkang Zheng, Fan Jiang, Xiaojun Cai

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. 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

4 authors.

Yanpeng XieDepartment of Endocrinology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Yingkang ZhengThe First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Fan JiangGeneral Office, Heilongjiang Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Xiaojun CaiDepartment of Endocrinology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic inflammation is a hallmark of diabetes mellitus and contributes to insulin resistance and disease progression. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota and their metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), play a crucial role in modulating immune responses. Probiotics and synbiotics are increasingly explored for their potential to mitigate inflammation via microbiota-targeted mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the effects of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers and microbial metabolites in individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes through meta-analytical techniques. Methods: A total of 46 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 3,580 diabetic patients were included following PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models to assess changes in inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10) and SCFA levels (butyrate, propionate, acetate). Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were conducted to identify effect modifiers such as intervention duration, formulation type (probiotic vs. synbiotic), and SCFA concentrations. Results: Probiotic/synbiotic interventions led to significant reductions in CRP (SMD = -0.54), IL-6 (SMD = -0.41), and TNF-α (SMD = -0.48), along with an increase in IL-10 (SMD = +0.38). SCFA levels rose significantly, with butyrate showing the strongest effect (SMD = +0.46). Meta-regression revealed that butyrate levels, synbiotic use, and intervention duration ≥8 weeks were strong predictors of anti-inflammatory efficacy. Multi-strain and synbiotic interventions were more effective than single-strain or probiotic-only formulations. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of findings, and publication bias was minimal. Discussion: These findings support the adjunctive use of targeted, SCFA-oriented probiotic formulations (e.g.,

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2InflammationProbioticsBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinFatty Acids, VolatileGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansInterleukin-10Interleukin-6Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicSynbioticsTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinFatty Acids, VolatileInterleukin-10Interleukin-6Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphadiabetes mellitusgut microbiotainflammatory markersshort-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)systemic inflammation

Identifiers

PMID41059033
PMCPMC12497789

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.