Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40732886›Full record

SynthesisNutrients2025

Modulating the Gut Microbiota to Target Neuroinflammation, Cognition and Mood: A Systematic Review of Human Studies with Relevance to Fibromyalgia.

Gianna Dipalma, Grazia Marinelli, Laura Ferrante, Angela Di Noia, Claudio Carone, Valeria Colonna, Pierluigi Marotti, Francesco Inchingolo, Andrea Palermo, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
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

13 authors.

Gianna DipalmaInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5947-8987
Grazia MarinelliInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9163-2350
Laura FerranteInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0007-1494-3519
Angela Di NoiaInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-0933-8670
Claudio CaroneInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-8682-9736
Valeria ColonnaInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0007-8701-3734
Pierluigi MarottiInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.
Francesco InchingoloInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3797-5883
Andrea PalermoDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3288-490X
Gianluca Martino TartagliaDepartment of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Milan University, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Massimo Del FabbroDepartment of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Milan University, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7144-0984
Angelo Michele InchingoloInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0104-6337
Alessio Danilo InchingoloInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6366-1039

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThis systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of microbiota-modulating interventions (such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation) in reducing cognitive symptoms, pain, and neuroinflammation in human studies relevant to fibromyalgia (FM). The review will investigate the role of gut-brain axis modulation through these interventions and explore the potential therapeutic benefits for FM management. MATERIALS AND

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for studies published from 1 January 2015 to 30 April 2025. Studies were eligible if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), pilot studies, or observational studies assessing the impact of microbiota-targeted interventions (probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation) on cognitive function, pain, or neuroinflammation in patients with FM. Studies were excluded if they involved animal models, lacked relevant outcome measures, or were not peer-reviewed. Although only a subset of the included studies directly involved FM patients, all were selected for their relevance to symptom domains (e.g., pain, cognition, mood) and mechanisms (e.g., neuroinflammation, gut-brain axis dysfunction) that are central to FM. A total of 11 human studies were included in the final qualitative synthesis.

resultsPreliminary findings from the included studies suggest that microbiota-targeted interventions, particularly probiotics and prebiotics, show promise in reducing cognitive symptoms, pain, and neuroinflammation in FM patients. Improvements in mood and quality of life were also reported, indicating potential benefits for overall well-being. However, heterogeneity in study designs, sample sizes, and outcome measures limit the ability to draw definitive conclusions.

conclusionsThis systematic review highlights the potential of microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy for managing FM symptoms, particularly cognitive dysfunction and neuroinflammation.

Indexed as

AffectCognitionFibromyalgiaGastrointestinal MicrobiomeNeuroinflammatory DiseasesFecal Microbiota TransplantationHumansPrebioticsProbioticsPrebioticsbrain–gut interactioncognitive dysfunctionfibromyalgiagut–brain axismicrobiotaneuroinflammationneuroinflammatory responsepain managementprebioticsprobiotics

Identifiers

PMID40732886
PMCPMC12301015

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.