Table 1 Specific characteristics of four articles included in the meta-analysis
Study | Groups (probiotics/placebo) | Age (years) | Interventions | Duration | Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Probiotics | Placebo | |||||
Ai [33] | 54 (30/24) | 6–14 | Probiotic blends | Exercise and diet guidance | 3 months | (1)(2)(8) |
Chen et al. [34] | 53 (27/26) | 6–18 | Functional ingredients and probiotics blends | Functional ingredients without probiotics blends | 3 months | (1)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) |
Jones et al. [25] | 19 (8/11) | 12–18 | VSL#3®(probiotic blends) | Inactive product | 16 weeks | (1) |
Zhang et al. [35] | 80 (40/40) | – | Probiotic blends | Regular diet | 15 days | (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) |