title: Glucose- and glycaemic factor-lowering effects of probiotics on diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.
abstract: This meta-analysis examined the effect of probiotics on glucose and glycaemic factors in diabetes and its associated risk factors. All randomised-controlled trials published in English in multiple databases from January 2000 to June 2015 were systematically searched. Only studies that addressed glucose- and glycaemic-related factors as outcome variables were included. The main outcomes of interest in trials were mean changes in glucose, HbA1c, insulin and homoeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale to assess the quality of studies, a total of eleven studies with 614 subjects were included. The pooled mean difference and effect size with a 95% CI were extracted using a random-effect model. It was found that there are statistically significant pooled mean differences between the probiotics and the placebo-controlled groups on the reduction of glucose (-0·52 mmol/l, 95% CI -0·92, -0·11 mmol/l; P=0·01) and HbA1c (-0·32%, 95% CI -0·57, -0·07%; P=0·01). There was no statistically significant pooled mean difference between the probiotics and the placebo-controlled groups on the reduction of insulin (-0·48 µIU/ml, 95% CI -1·34, 0·38 µIU/ml; P=0·27) and HOMA-IR (pooled effect of -0·44, 95% CI -1·57, 0·70; P=0·45). Meta-regression analysis identified that probiotics had significant effects on reduction of glucose, HbA1c, insulin and HOMA-IR in participants with diabetes, but not in participants with other risk factors. The present meta-analysis suggested that probiotics may be used as an important dietary supplement in reducing the glucose metabolic factors associated with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Medicine,Menzies Health Institute Queensland,Griffith University,Parkland,Gold Coast,QLD 4222,Australia.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 2Menzies Health Institute Queensland,Griffith University,Parkland,Gold Coast,QLD 4222,Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Buys
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005215:Fasting; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D010919:Placebos
keywords: Glucose; Glycaemic factors; HOMA-IR homoeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance; Probiotics