Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Abstract Objective This meta-analysis is aimed to verify the effectiveness and safety of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on body measurements, metabolic indicators, and inflammation indicators in obese patients across randomized controlled trials with various comparators. Methods From the inception of data...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04874-2 |
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| author | Wenjuan Sun Zexiang Zhuang Li Yang Jie Zhou Linan Zhang Junhua Yuan |
| author_facet | Wenjuan Sun Zexiang Zhuang Li Yang Jie Zhou Linan Zhang Junhua Yuan |
| author_sort | Wenjuan Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective This meta-analysis is aimed to verify the effectiveness and safety of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on body measurements, metabolic indicators, and inflammation indicators in obese patients across randomized controlled trials with various comparators. Methods From the inception of databases to January 5, 2025, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, OVID, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Two reviewers independently performed the search, extracted data, and assessed study quality based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.4 software. The reporting and quality assessment of this review study was guided by the PRISMA and AMSTAR. Results Eleven RCTs with a total of 569 patients were included in meta-analysis. The pooled data revealed that PBM demonstrated significantly improvements in body anthropometric measurements, such as waistline [MD = - 7.28, 95% CI (- 9.97 to - 5.67), p < 0.00001], weight [MD = - 3.54, 95% CI (- 5.97 to - 1.11), p < 0.00001], BMI [MD = - 1.18, 95% CI (- 1.93 to - 0.43), p = 0.002]. PBM also showed potential in the reduction of CRP [MD = - 0.99, 95% CI (- 1.17 to - 0.82), p < 0.00001], as well as in TC, and HOMA-IR, which is [MD = - 23.01, 95% CI (- 31.68 to - 14.35), p < 0.00001] and [MD = - 0.46, 95% CI (- 0.73 to - 0.20), p = 0.0007] respectively. No significant differences were found in reducing WHR [MD = - 0.05, 95% CI (- 0.1 to 0.00), p = 0.05], fat mass percentage [MD = - 0.28, 95% CI (- 1.25 to 0.69), p = 0.57] and insulin [MD = - 1.98, 95% CI (- 4.20 to 0.23), p = 0.08]. Conclusion The results of our study suggest that PBM may offer potential benefits for treating obesity, showing some improvements in key indicators such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, CRP, TC, and HOMA-IR compared to exercise, dietary changes, and sham PBM. However, further theoretical exploration of PBM is needed, and multi-center, large-scale trials with longer follow-up durations and demographic range are necessary to confirm and validate the findings of our study. Registration number CRD42024532988. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2662-7671 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e0d47e74650c40179c7e35ea66b788f62025-08-20T02:16:06ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712025-04-0125111410.1186/s12906-025-04874-2Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTsWenjuan Sun0Zexiang Zhuang1Li Yang2Jie Zhou3Linan Zhang4Junhua Yuan5Health Management Center, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone HospitalGariatric Ward, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone HospitalRehabilitation Department, Peking University Shenzhen HospitalNursing Department, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone HospitalNursing Department, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone HospitalDepartment of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao UniversityAbstract Objective This meta-analysis is aimed to verify the effectiveness and safety of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on body measurements, metabolic indicators, and inflammation indicators in obese patients across randomized controlled trials with various comparators. Methods From the inception of databases to January 5, 2025, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, OVID, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Two reviewers independently performed the search, extracted data, and assessed study quality based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.4 software. The reporting and quality assessment of this review study was guided by the PRISMA and AMSTAR. Results Eleven RCTs with a total of 569 patients were included in meta-analysis. The pooled data revealed that PBM demonstrated significantly improvements in body anthropometric measurements, such as waistline [MD = - 7.28, 95% CI (- 9.97 to - 5.67), p < 0.00001], weight [MD = - 3.54, 95% CI (- 5.97 to - 1.11), p < 0.00001], BMI [MD = - 1.18, 95% CI (- 1.93 to - 0.43), p = 0.002]. PBM also showed potential in the reduction of CRP [MD = - 0.99, 95% CI (- 1.17 to - 0.82), p < 0.00001], as well as in TC, and HOMA-IR, which is [MD = - 23.01, 95% CI (- 31.68 to - 14.35), p < 0.00001] and [MD = - 0.46, 95% CI (- 0.73 to - 0.20), p = 0.0007] respectively. No significant differences were found in reducing WHR [MD = - 0.05, 95% CI (- 0.1 to 0.00), p = 0.05], fat mass percentage [MD = - 0.28, 95% CI (- 1.25 to 0.69), p = 0.57] and insulin [MD = - 1.98, 95% CI (- 4.20 to 0.23), p = 0.08]. Conclusion The results of our study suggest that PBM may offer potential benefits for treating obesity, showing some improvements in key indicators such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, CRP, TC, and HOMA-IR compared to exercise, dietary changes, and sham PBM. However, further theoretical exploration of PBM is needed, and multi-center, large-scale trials with longer follow-up durations and demographic range are necessary to confirm and validate the findings of our study. Registration number CRD42024532988.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04874-2Low-level laser therapyPhotobiomodulationObesityMeta-analysisAnthropometricsMetabolism |
| spellingShingle | Wenjuan Sun Zexiang Zhuang Li Yang Jie Zhou Linan Zhang Junhua Yuan Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Low-level laser therapy Photobiomodulation Obesity Meta-analysis Anthropometrics Metabolism |
| title | Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs |
| title_full | Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs |
| title_short | Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs |
| title_sort | effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients a systematic review and meta analysis of rcts |
| topic | Low-level laser therapy Photobiomodulation Obesity Meta-analysis Anthropometrics Metabolism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04874-2 |
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