SynthesisNutrition reviews2025
Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Sarcopenia Parameters in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Nutrition reviews, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of combined protein and probiotic supplementation on physical performance and body composition: a Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Effect of host and gut microbiota-altering interventions on sarcopenia or its defining parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis of nutrition-based intervention studies.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on Body Fat, Skeletal Muscle Mass, and Body Mass Index in Individuals ≥45 Years Old: A Systematic Review.In vivo (Athens, Greece)Pooled it
- The gut microbiome and ageing trajectories: mechanisms and clinical implications.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2026Review
- The Gut-Muscle Axis in Sarcopenia: Mechanisms, Evidence Gaps and Translational Challenges.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Sarcopenia and MASLD: novel insights and the future.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2026Review
- From mouth to muscle: mechanistic and interventional perspectives on the tongue-coating microbiome in sarcopenia.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Review
- Obesity medications and precision nutrition: synergistic interventions and integrated approach in obesity management.Current obesity reports · 2026Review
- The impact of probiotics and synbiotics supplementation on bone health; an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.SAGE open medicine · 2026Review
- Exploring the Role of the Gut Microbiome Across the Lifespan: Implications for Aging and Metabolic Disorders.Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2025Review
- Review
- Microbiome-centered therapies for the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.Clinical and molecular hepatology · 2025Review
- Gut dysbiosis in primary sarcopenia: potential mechanisms and implications for novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.Frontiers in microbiology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
contextThere is scarce evidence about which probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic supplementation is the most appropriate to improve sarcopenia parameters, and this presents a challenge.
objectiveThe effects of consumption of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on sarcopenia, muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance and function were assessed in this study. In addition, another aim of the study was to determine the best probiotic, prebiotic, and/or synbiotic for the management of sarcopenia in older adults. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS databases, and other sources (eg, references obtained from articles identified in databases). DATA EXTRACTION: The search was limited from 2000 to 2023 and was based on sarcopenia parameters, and probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics supplementation. The quality of each included study also was assessed. DATA ANALYSIS: A meta-analysis was performed with the Review Manager program and publication bias and sensitivity analysis were performed.
resultsEight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the systematic review and 4 in the meta-analysis. Results showed that probiotics supplementation improved muscle strength and physical performance and function and suggested a beneficial effect on muscle mass. Prebiotics are suggested to be effective on muscle strength. The meta-analysis also determined that probiotic interventions were effective in increasing muscle strength by handgrip strength (mean difference [MD], 2.50 kg [95% CI, 1.33-3.66]; P < .0001) and physical performance and function by gait speed (MD, 0.10 m/s [95% CI, 1.33-3.66]; P < .0001) and physical performance and function by gait speed (MD, 0.10 m/s [95%CI, 0.03-0.16]; P = .003), but when sensitivity analysis was applied, the effectiveness was only maintained for gait speed.
conclusionNutritional strategies based on probiotic supplementation seem to improve muscle strength and physical function. More robust research is needed with high-quality RCTs to confirm probiotics' effects. There is still limited evidence about prebiotic and synbiotic strategies, and more evidence is needed to elucidate their effects on sarcopenia parameters. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022360514.
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Registered trials
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 Socratic graph.