Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

Supplementation with probiotics seems to confer protective effects in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), although available results are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to systematically review existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to critically assess the effect of probiotics on psych...

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Main Authors: Lu Li, Fengqi Du, Xilong Liu, Mengyao Song, Giuseppe Grosso, Maurizio Battino, Christine Boesch, He Li, Xinqi Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/10/1773
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author Lu Li
Fengqi Du
Xilong Liu
Mengyao Song
Giuseppe Grosso
Maurizio Battino
Christine Boesch
He Li
Xinqi Liu
author_facet Lu Li
Fengqi Du
Xilong Liu
Mengyao Song
Giuseppe Grosso
Maurizio Battino
Christine Boesch
He Li
Xinqi Liu
author_sort Lu Li
collection DOAJ
description Supplementation with probiotics seems to confer protective effects in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), although available results are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to systematically review existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to critically assess the effect of probiotics on psychiatric symptoms, anthropometric indicators, lipid profiles, glycemic indices, inflammation, and oxidative stress in adults with SZ. A systematic search was conducted in four databases from inception until January 2025. Six RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis that demonstrated beneficial effects of probiotics on SZ severity determined via the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), with significant reductions in PANSS (MD = −0.50, <i>p</i> = 0.001), PANSS Negative (MD = −0.31, <i>p</i> = 0.050), and PANSS General scores (MD = −0.33, <i>p</i> = 0.036), alongside reductions in body weight (MD = −0.92, <i>p</i> = 0.000), body mass index (MD = −0.53, <i>p</i> = 0.016), and total cholesterol (SMD = −0.34, <i>p</i> = 0.005). Furthermore, probiotic interventions reduced baseline glucose (SMD = −0.59, <i>p</i> = 0.000), insulin (MD = −0.68, <i>p</i> = 0.000), and measures of insulin sensitivity/resistance and significantly improved biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. To summarize, this meta-analysis suggests that probiotics may confer beneficial effects in patients with SZ through improving psychiatric symptoms as well as markers of body weight, lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
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spelling doaj-art-3ceef82ffe124cb8905993e1e28e68352025-08-20T03:14:31ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-05-011410177310.3390/foods14101773Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical TrialsLu Li0Fengqi Du1Xilong Liu2Mengyao Song3Giuseppe Grosso4Maurizio Battino5Christine Boesch6He Li7Xinqi Liu8Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyInternational Joint Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agriculture and Agri-Products Processing, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKKey Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, ChinaSupplementation with probiotics seems to confer protective effects in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), although available results are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to systematically review existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to critically assess the effect of probiotics on psychiatric symptoms, anthropometric indicators, lipid profiles, glycemic indices, inflammation, and oxidative stress in adults with SZ. A systematic search was conducted in four databases from inception until January 2025. Six RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis that demonstrated beneficial effects of probiotics on SZ severity determined via the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), with significant reductions in PANSS (MD = −0.50, <i>p</i> = 0.001), PANSS Negative (MD = −0.31, <i>p</i> = 0.050), and PANSS General scores (MD = −0.33, <i>p</i> = 0.036), alongside reductions in body weight (MD = −0.92, <i>p</i> = 0.000), body mass index (MD = −0.53, <i>p</i> = 0.016), and total cholesterol (SMD = −0.34, <i>p</i> = 0.005). Furthermore, probiotic interventions reduced baseline glucose (SMD = −0.59, <i>p</i> = 0.000), insulin (MD = −0.68, <i>p</i> = 0.000), and measures of insulin sensitivity/resistance and significantly improved biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. To summarize, this meta-analysis suggests that probiotics may confer beneficial effects in patients with SZ through improving psychiatric symptoms as well as markers of body weight, lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/10/1773probioticspsychiatric symptomlipid profileglycemic indicesinflammationoxidative stress
spellingShingle Lu Li
Fengqi Du
Xilong Liu
Mengyao Song
Giuseppe Grosso
Maurizio Battino
Christine Boesch
He Li
Xinqi Liu
Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
Foods
probiotics
psychiatric symptom
lipid profile
glycemic indices
inflammation
oxidative stress
title Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
title_full Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
title_fullStr Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
title_short Effect of Supplementation with Probiotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
title_sort effect of supplementation with probiotics in patients with schizophrenia systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
topic probiotics
psychiatric symptom
lipid profile
glycemic indices
inflammation
oxidative stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/10/1773
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