Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41319022›Full record

SynthesisBrain and behavior2025

Role of Probiotics in Management of Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Depression: An Updated Analysis of Trials.

Syed Ali Arsal, Aashish Kumar, Umer Iqbal, Shafin Bin Amin, Muhammad Aniq Amir, Muhammad Abrar Amir, Muhammad Ashir Shafique, Suhaib Ahmed, Laksh Kumar, Oluwatobiloba Israel Popoola and 1 more

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Brain and behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

11 authors.

Syed Ali ArsalDepartment of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Aashish KumarDepartment of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Umer IqbalDepartment of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Shafin Bin AminDepartment of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Muhammad Aniq AmirDepartment of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Muhammad Abrar AmirDepartment of Medicine, Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Muhammad Ashir ShafiqueDepartment of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Suhaib AhmedDepartment of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Laksh KumarDepartment of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Oluwatobiloba Israel PopoolaDepartment of Medicine, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Inibehe Ime OkonDepartment of Research, Medical Research Circle (MedReC), Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8275-5713

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveDepression is a global burden that causes mortality and morbidity in patients and affects millions of people worldwide. Conventional treatment of depression has limited efficacy in addressing cognitive symptoms. Probiotics, particularly psychobiotics, offer promise by modulating the gut-brain axis and improving both depressive symptoms and cognitive function. This meta-analysis provides insights into the potential of probiotics in alleviating depression-related symptoms and cognitive deficits in comparison with placebo.

methodA thorough literature search was performed using online resources such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. The seven randomized control trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria. The study was conducted in compliance with the PRISMA guidelines.

resultPatients receiving probiotics had significant alleviation of cognitive symptoms (p = 0.01; SMD, -0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.59 to -0.21; I

conclusionIn conclusion, research has demonstrated that probiotic supplementation can be a highly effective supplementary treatment for depression by effectively addressing psychological symptoms and cognitive problems. Its therapeutic potential in clinical settings should be explored by additional research to better understand its mechanisms.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionDepressionProbioticsHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topiccognitive impairmentdepressionmeta‐analysisprobioticspsychiatric illness

Identifiers

PMID41319022
PMCPMC12665043

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.