Effects of probiotic treatment on patients and animals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#animals #humans #inflammation #lung #probiotics

Effects of probiotic treatment on patients and animals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials

Su et al., 2024 | Front Cell Infect Microbiol | Meta Analysis

Citation

Su Ziying, Ma Chenxi, ... Zhang Jianping. Effects of probiotic treatment on patients and animals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024;14:1411222. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1411222

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, the lung-gut axis has received increasing attention. The oxidative stress and systemic hypoxia occurring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are related to gut dysfunction. That suggests probiotics have a potential therapeutic role in COPD. In this study, we therefore evaluated the ameliorative effects of probiotics on COPD. METHODS: Searches were conducted in four electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, the NIH clinical registry Clinical Trials. Gov and EMBASE. The data extracted was analyzed statistically in this study using StataMP17 software, with mean difference (MD) chosen as the effect size for continuous variables, and the results expressed as effect sizes and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was used if the data units were different. RESULTS: We included three randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trials and five randomized controlled animal studies. The results show that for lung function, probiotics improved %FEV1 in COPD patients (MD = 3.02, 95%CI: 1.10, 4.93). Additionally, in inflammation, probiotics increased IL-10 (SMD = 1.99, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.96) and decreased inflammatory markers such as TNF-α (SMD= -2.64, 95%Cl: -3.38, -1.90), IL-1β (SMD= -3.49, 95%Cl: -4.58, -2.40), and IL-6 (SMD= -6.54, 95%Cl: -8.36, -4.73) in COPD animals, while having no significant effect on C-reactive protein (MD = 0.30, 95%CI: -0.71, 1.32) in COPD patients. For lung structure, probiotics significantly reduced the degree of pulmonary collagen fibers deposition in COPD animals (SMD = -2.25, 95%CI: -3.08, -1.41). CONCLUSION: Overall, probiotics may be an additional approach that can improve COPD. Further clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and impact factors of probiotics for COPD. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-4-0023/, identifier INPLASY202340023.

Key Findings

We included three randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trials and five randomized controlled animal studies. The results show that for lung function, probiotics improved %FEV1 in COPD patients (MD = 3.02, 95%CI: 1.10, 4.93). Additionally, in inflammation, probiotics increased IL-10 (SMD = 1.99, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.96) and decreased inflammatory markers such as TNF-α (SMD= -2.64, 95%Cl: -3.38, -1.90), IL-1β (SMD= -3.49, 95%Cl: -4.58, -2.40), and IL-6 (SMD= -6.54, 95%Cl: -8.36, -4.73) in COPD

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition stress

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Lung
  • Probiotics
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article, Meta-Analysis
  • Vertical: collagen

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09