Efficacy and safety of probiotic/synbiotic supplementation for osteoporosis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of probiotic/synbiotic supplementation for osteoporosis.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were used to screen studies up to October 2025. Data pooling used standardized mean differences (SMD) or risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Sensitivity analysis assessed result stability. Review Manager 5.4 and STATA 15.1 were used to analyze. Publication bias was assessed by Egger's test and funnel plots. Evidence for each outcome was evaluated and graded according to GRADE.
Results: Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 732 patients were included. Significant improvements in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) (SMD: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.69; P = 0.049) and parathyroid hormone (SMD: -1.21; 95% CI: -2.19, -0.23; P = 0.02) existed in the probiotic/synbiotic group. No increase in adverse event risk was observed (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.86, 1.23; P = 0.78). No significant effects were found on total hip BMD, osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide, alkaline phosphatase, or osteoprotegerin. No publication bias was detected.
Conclusion: Probiotic/synbiotic supplementation may be safe and effective as an adjunctive treatment for osteoporosis, improving bone density without increasing adverse reactions. Larger, multicenter RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024540614, identifier CRD42024540614.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 732 participants or records.
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