Table 5.

Subgroup analysis of oxidative stress.

Subgroup by	No. of trials	No. of patients	Probiotics	Prebiotics	Synbiotics
Changes of MDA
Follow-up period
<3 months	4	254	0.01 (−0.06, 0.08)	−0.01 (−0.01, −0.01)	−0.9 (−1.30, −0.50)*
≥3 months	4	240	−0.73 (−0.93, −0.53)*	–	−0.40 (−0.84, 0.04)
Target population
Dialysis patients	6	394	−0.74 (−0.96, −0.52)*	−0.01(−0.01, −0.01)	−0.68 (−0.97, −0.38)*
Non-dialysis patients	2	100	−0.4 (−1.31, 0.52)	–	–
Changes of GSH
Follow-up period
<3 months	1	40	1.95 (1.20, 2.71)*	–	–
≥3 months	4	240	56.52 (1.62, 111.41)*	–	98.60 (−7.45, 204.65)
Target population
Dialysis patients	3	180	73.23 (−9.08, 155.54)	–	98.60 (−22.22, 219.42)
Non-dialysis patients	2	100	1.12 (−0.45, 2.70)	–	–
Changes of TAC
Follow-up period
<3 months	1	40	0.62 (−0.01, 1.26)	–	–
≥3 months	3	180	0.49 (0.13, 0.86)*	–	0.58 (0.06, 1.10)*
Target population
Dialysis patients	3	180	0.49 (0.13, 0.86)*	–	0.58 (0.06, 1.10)*
Non-dialysis patients	1	40	0.62 (−0.01, 1.26)	–	–

^*P < 0.05 compared with placebo.

MDA, malondialdehyde; GSH, glutathione; TAC, total antioxidant capacity.