Skip to main content
. 2025 Aug 26;25:886. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07999-x

Table 1.

Characteristics of the included studies

Author, Year Study Design Comparators Sample size Prepregnancy BMI (kg/m2) Gestational weeks Regimen of Intervention Dose of Intervention Form of intervention Administration duration
Pellonperä, O. 2020 [42] Db-RCT probiotics + placebo 109 29.9 ± 4.7 13.7 ± 2.1 Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 1010 CFU capsule From the randomisation to the end of pregnancy
placebo + placebo 110 29.7 ± 4.2 13.9 ± 2.0 microcrystalline cellulose -
Lindsay, K. L.2014 [43] Db-RCT probiotic 63 - 13.8 ± 2.3 Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 109 CFU capsule From 24 weeks’ gestation to 28 weeks’ gestation
placebo 75 - 13.9 ± 2.4 - -
Callaway, L. K.2019 [44] Db-RCT probiotic 204 31.9 ± 7.5 - Lactobacillus rhamnosus(LGG) and Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis(BB-12) > 109 CFU capsule From < 20 weeks’ gestation until birth
placebo 207 31.6 ± 7.2 - microcrystalline cellulose and dextrose anhydrate capsules -
Halkjar, S. I.2019 [45] Db-RCT probiotic 25 31.7 ± 1.8 15.5 ± 1.5 Streptococcus thermophilus DSM 24,731, bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium breve DSM 24,732, Bifidobacterium longum DSM 24,736, Bifidobacterium infantis DSM 24,737) and lactobacilli (Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 24,735, Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 24,730, Lactobacillus paracasei DSM 24,733, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus DSM 24,734) 450 billion CFU capsule From14 − 20 weeks’ gestation until birth
placebo 25 32.1 ± 1.3 15.1 ± 1.4 microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide -
Saros, L.2023 [46] Db-RCT probiotics + placebo 81 28.4 (26.5; 31.0) 13.8 ± 2.1 Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 1010 CFU capsule From enrollment(13.9 ± 2.1 gestational weeks) until 6 months postpartum
placebo + placebo 85 9.2 (26.5; 31.8) 13.9 ± 2.0 microcrystalline cellulose -
Pellonperä, O.2019 [47] Db-RCT probiotics + placebo 109 29.9 ± 4.7 13.7 ± 2.1 Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 1010 CFU capsule From < 18 gestational weeks to 6 months postpartum
placebo + placebo 110 29.7 ± 4.2 13.9 ± 2.0 microcrystalline cellulose -
Asgharian, H.2019 [48] Db-RCT Probiotic yoghurt 65 29.2 ± 3.3 - Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 + Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus 5 × 1010+109 CFU yoghurt From 24 weeks of gestation until delivery
Conventional yoghurt 65 30.3 ± 4.1 - Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 109 CFU
Okesene-Gafa, K.2019 [49] 2 × 2 factorial, RCT probiotic 115 38.9 ± 6.5 15.2 ± 1.8 Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 minimum 6.5 × 109 CFU capsule From 12–17 weeks’ gestation until delivery
placebo 115 38.2 ± 5.7 15.1 ± 1.8 microcrystalline cellulose and dextrose anhydrate -