Microbiome supplements showed no consistent metabolic benefit in youth with excess weight
Prebiotics were associated with lower weight and BMI, but confidence in that finding was very low; blood sugar and lipid outcomes showed no clear benefit.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review did not find consistent improvements in metabolic risk factors from prebiotics, probiotics or synbiotics in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. Prebiotics were associated with lower weight and body mass index, but the evidence was very uncertain. These results do not establish that prebiotics outperform the other supplements.
The authors rated the prebiotic weight and BMI evidence as very low certainty. The abstract does not report participant totals, control conditions, supplement doses or follow-up lengths, limiting practical interpretation.
Weight findings were not uniform
For prebiotics, the reported weight and body mass index differences were not accompanied by a statistically clear change in BMI z-scores. Analyses by supplement type, study duration, sample size and starting BMI found no consistent pattern.
Other outcomes remained uncertain
Probiotics and synbiotics did not show statistically clear changes in weight, body mass index or BMI z-scores. No supplement category showed a statistically clear effect on the measured blood sugar or blood lipid outcomes.
The original publication
The role of microbiome-modulating supplements in managing metabolic syndrome risk factors among overweight and obese youth: a GRADE-assessed meta-analysis.
Xie J, Liu S, Wong X
BMC Pediatr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41444876
- Record checked
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