<p class="first" id="d8888503e101">A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized
controlled trials was conducted
to examine the effects of probiotic supplementation on body weight, body mass index
(BMI), fat mass and fat percentage in subjects with overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg m-2
) or obesity (BMI ≥30 kg m-2 ). MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register
of Controlled Trials were searched for studies published between 1946 and September
2016. A meta-analysis, using a random effects model, was performed to calculate the
weighted mean difference between the intervention and control groups. Of 800 studies
identified through the literature search, 15 were finally included. The studies comprised
a total of 957 subjects (63% women), with the mean BMI being 27.6 kg m-2 and the duration
of the interventions ranging from 3 to 12 weeks. Administration of probiotics resulted
in a significantly larger reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [95%
confidence interval]; -0.60 [-1.19, -0.01] kg, I2 = 49%), BMI (-0.27 [-0.45, -0.08]
kg m-2 , I2 = 57%) and fat percentage (-0.60 [-1.20, -0.01] %, I2 = 19%), compared
with placebo; however, the effect sizes were small. The effect of probiotics on fat
mass was non-significant (-0.42 [-1.08, 0.23] kg, I2 = 84%).
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