Effects of probiotics on cognitive function across the human lifespan: a meta-analysis.

IF 3.3 3区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition Pub Date : 2025-09-23 DOI:10.1038/s41430-025-01660-8

HanQing Guo, YanHua Liang, XueMei Qin, Qing Luo, XiuMei Gong, Qinghan Gao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: In recent years, probiotics have become one of the research hotspots in the scientific community, and its potential role in intestinal health, immune regulation, and the relationship with the brain has attracted much attention. However, the improvement of cognitive function by probiotics shows different effects in different stages of the human life cycle.

Objective: Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to examine the specific effects of probiotics on cognitive function in different age groups.

Methods: We searched four databases from creation to December 2023. A meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled clinical trials was conducted, using random effect Meta analysis combined with standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% confidence interval [CI]).

Results: Our meta-analysis found that the effects of probiotics on cognitive performance were primarily seen in older age groups, with significant effects on overall cognitive performance, processing speed, memory, and spatial ability (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI [0.13, 0.67], P = 0.004), (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [0.11, 0.63], P = 0.006), (SMD = 0. 51, 95% CI [0.25, 0.78], P = 0.0002), (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI [0.09, 0.62], P = 0.008). In addition, probiotics improved executive function in infants and children (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI [0.04, 0.56], P = 0.03). In young adults, the effects of probiotics were mainly seen in verbal ability (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [0.15, 0.71], p = 0.003).

Conclusion: Probiotic supplements primarily improve overall cognitive function, information processing speed, memory, and spatial ability in older adults, with the best results observed after 12 weeks of daily intake of approximately 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU.

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益生菌对人类一生认知功能的影响：一项荟萃分析。

背景：近年来，益生菌已成为科学界的研究热点之一，其在肠道健康、免疫调节以及与大脑的关系等方面的潜在作用备受关注。然而，益生菌对认知功能的改善作用在人类生命周期的不同阶段表现出不同的效果。目的：因此，我们进行了一项随机对照试验的荟萃分析，以研究益生菌对不同年龄组认知功能的具体影响。方法：检索自创建至2023年12月的4个数据库。采用随机效应Meta分析结合标准化平均差（SMD）（95%置信区间[CI]）对21项随机对照临床试验进行Meta分析。结果：我们的荟萃分析发现，益生菌对认知表现的影响主要出现在年龄较大的人群中，对整体认知表现、处理速度、记忆力和空间能力有显著影响（SMD = 0.40, 95% CI [0.13, 0.67], P = 0.004），（SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [0.11, 0.63], P = 0.006）， (SMD = 0。51岁的95%可信区间[0.25,0.78],P = 0.0002), (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI [0.09, 0.62], P = 0.008)。此外，益生菌可改善婴儿和儿童的执行功能（SMD = 0.30, 95% CI [0.04, 0.56], P = 0.03）。在年轻人中，益生菌的作用主要体现在语言能力方面（SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [0.15, 0.71], p = 0.003）。结论：益生菌补充剂主要改善老年人的整体认知功能、信息处理速度、记忆力和空间能力，在每天摄入约2 × 10¹⁰CFU 12周后观察到最佳效果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 医学-营养学

CiteScore

10.60

自引率

2.10%

发文量

189

审稿时长

3-6 weeks

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (EJCN) is an international, peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of human and clinical nutrition. The journal welcomes original research, reviews, case reports and brief communications based on clinical, metabolic and epidemiological studies that describe methodologies, mechanisms, associations and benefits of nutritional interventions for clinical disease and health promotion. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: Nutrition and Health (including climate and ecological aspects) Metabolism & Metabolomics Genomics and personalized strategies in nutrition Nutrition during the early life cycle Health issues and nutrition in the elderly Phenotyping in clinical nutrition Nutrition in acute and chronic diseases The double burden of ''malnutrition'': Under-nutrition and Obesity Prevention of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD)