Efficacy of a Probiotic Combination on Glycemic Index and Insulin Resistance in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Insulin resistance leads to increased glucose and insulin levels. Probiotics can reduce insulin resistance, but the presence of different probiotic strains and doses prevents the generalization to real-world scenario. The current systematic review and meta-analysis study investigated the efficacy of a triple probiotic combination (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum) on glycemic index and insulin resistance parameters in adults. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of the probiotics combination on glycemic index and insulin resistance parameters were identified. Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool were used for risk of bias assessment and RevMan for meta-analysis. Fourteen good-quality clinical trials were included in the current study. Low-to-moderate risk of bias was observed. Data from 823 participants were included. Probiotics supplementation significantly reduced insulin resistance (MD: −1.05 HOMA-IR score, p p = 0.0003) and insulin levels (MD: −3.79 µIU/ml, p p p Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum is effective in reducing insulin resistance, improving glycemic index parameters, and improving pancreatic β-cell functioning in adults by improving the gastrointestinal microbiome.