TABLE 1.

PICOS criteria for inclusion and exclusion of studies¹

Criteria	Inclusion and exclusion criteria of observational studies	Inclusion and exclusion criteria of clinical trials
Population	Adult subjects (>18 y old) of all sexes and races with cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, T2D, hypercholesterolemia or metabolic syndrome) or cardiovascular disease were eligible for inclusion	Adult subjects of all sexes and races who were overweight or obese, or were diagnosed with T2D, hypercholesterolemia, or metabolic syndrome were eligible for inclusion. Subjects with GD, bariatric surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, and pregnant women or infants were excluded.
Intervention or exposure	Studies that evaluated the effect of fermented dairy consumption were eligible for inclusion. Studies that evaluated the effect of whole dietary pattern were excluded.	Studies with probiotic supplementation (all probiotic genera, administered through powder or capsules forms or added to a dairy matrix) were eligible for inclusion. Studies that do not specify probiotic species were excluded.
Comparison	Studies that compared individuals in highest category of fermented dairy consumption compared with individuals in lowest category of fermented dairy consumption were eligible for inclusion.	Studies with placebo products were eligible for inclusion.
Outcomes	Studies that measured the incidence of IHD, stroke, cardiovascular mortality, obesity, T2D, or metabolic syndrome development were eligible for inclusion.	Studies that measured: BW, BMI, WC, body fat, body fat mass, VFA and/or SCFA in obese subjects; fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, fasting glucose, and/or plasma CRP in T2D subjects; total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, and/or triglycerides in hypercholesterolemic subjects; WC, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides, and/or fasting glucose in metabolic syndrome subjects were eligible for inclusion.
Study design	Prospective cohort studies were considered for inclusion. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were excluded.	Randomized clinical trials were considered for inclusion. Nonrandomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis were excluded.
Meta-analysis	At least 3 studies for each parameter	At least 3 studies for each parameter, and the same type or study (RCTs).

¹BW, body weight; IHD, ischemic heart disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; CVD, cardiovascular disease; GD, gastrointestinal disorders; HbA1c, glycosylated hemoglobin; HDL-c, HDL cholesterol; LDL-c, LDL cholesterol; PICOS, Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study design; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SCFA, subcutaneous fat area; T2D, type 2 diabetes; VFA, visceral fat area; WC, waist circumference.