Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41726073›Full record

ArticleMateria socio-medica2025

Assessing the Impact of Probiotic Consumption on Gastrointestinal Health in Saudi Arabia: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Fahd Almalki, Feras Felemban, Gharam Alahmadi, Hazim Alsaedi, Shahad Warsi, Fahd Alsulmi, Abduallah Almoalem, Manal E Alotaibi, Laila A Alharbi, Abdullah D Alotaibi and 1 more

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Article in Materia socio-medica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Fahd AlmalkiDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Feras FelembanDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Gharam AlahmadiDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Ibin Sina National College for Medical Studies, al-Mahjar, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Hazim AlsaediDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Shahad WarsiDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Fahd AlsulmiDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Abduallah AlmoalemDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Manal E AlotaibiDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Laila A AlharbiDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah D AlotaibiDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammad ShahDepartment of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) health significantly impacts overall well-being. Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts, have been associated with improvements in digestion, immunity, and gut microbiota balance. Despite evidence supporting their role in managing conditions like bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and antibiotic-associated symptoms, awareness and clinical use of probiotics remain limited in many populations, including Saudi Arabia. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between probiotic consumption and gastrointestinal health outcomes among adults in Saudi Arabia, and to explore factors influencing probiotic intake. Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire targeting adults across Saudi Arabia. Data on demographics, dietary habits, probiotic use, and gastrointestinal symptoms were collected and analyzed using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among 442 participants, the majority were young adults (18-30 years), female, and students. Most (87%) had heard of probiotics, though only 16.6% used them regularly. Yogurt and pickled foods were common sources; supplements were less used (13.8%). A significant association was observed between frequent probiotic use and better self-reported digestive health (χ Conclusion: Although awareness of probiotics is high, regular usage is limited and influenced by lifestyle and dietary behaviors. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health initiatives to improve probiotic literacy and promote their integration into dietary strategies for digestive health support.

Indexed as

Cross-sectional studyDietary behaviorDigestive symptomsGastrointestinal healthProbioticsPublic healthSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID41726073
PMCPMC12923288

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