SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2026
Effects of combined protein and probiotic supplementation on physical performance and body composition: a Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Protein supplementation is widely used to support muscle adaptation. Probiotics may also improve nutrient use, gut health, and recovery. However, evidence on their combined effects remains inconsistent. This study examined the effects of protein-plus-probiotic supplementation on physical performance and body composition using Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis. Method: This review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO and conducted according to PRISMA. Randomized controlled trials in adults were identified through systematic database searches, with screening supported by ASReview and Covidence. Studies were included if they compared protein-plus-probiotic supplementation with placebo, protein alone, or other relevant controls, and reported outcomes on physical performance or body composition. Effect sizes were calculated as Hedges' Result: Twenty studies with 679 participants were included. The posterior estimate was positive for physical performance [Hedges' Conclusion: Current evidence suggests selective signals of benefit for protein-plus-probiotic supplementation. The intervention may be associated with better physical performance, particularly muscle strength and muscular endurance, whereas evidence for broad body-composition changes remains limited. For body composition, the most consistent signal was observed for lean mass or muscle mass. Further high-quality randomized trials are needed to clarify whether these signals are reproducible across probiotic strains, protein types, delivery forms, and populations. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251165192, Registered at the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO; CRD420251165192).
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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.