Table 1.

Specific characteristics of the seven studies included in the meta-analysis

Study	Country	Sample size (experiment/control)	Age (years)	Interventions	Administration form	Probiotic strain	Duration	Outcomes
Mahboobi et al. [5]	Iran	56 (28/27)	25–65	Probiotic/Placebo	Capsule	Lacbotacillus casei; Lacbotacillus acidophilus; Lacbotacillus phamnosus, etc.	8 weeks	(8)
Kassaian et al. [21]	Iran	85 (27/30/28)	35–75	Probiotic/Synbiotic/Placebo	Powder	Lactobacillus acidophilus; Bifidobacterium lactis; Bifidobacterium bifidum, etc.	24 weeks	(1)(2)(3)(4)
Naito et al. [17]	Japan	98 (48/50)	20–64	Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota/Placebo	Milk	Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota	14–15 weeks	(1)(2)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)
Toshimitsu et al. [22]	Japan	126 (62/64)	20–64	Lactobacillus plantarum OLL2712/Placebo	Yogurt	Lactobacillus plantarum OLL2712	12 weeks	(1)(2)(4)
Yan et al. [23]	China	72 (41/31)	35–65	Probiotic/Placebo	Capsule	Bifidobacterium; Lactobacillus-acidophilus; Enterococcus-faecalis	2 years	(1)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)
Oh et al. [24]	Korea	37 (20/17)	19–70	Lactobacillus plantarum HAC01/Placebo	Capsule	Lactobacillus plantarum HAC01	8 weeks	(1)(2)(3)(4)
Stefanaki et al. [25]	Greece	17 (7/10)	12–20	Probiotic/Placebo	Sachet	Streptococcus thermophilus; Bifidobacteria breve; Bifidobacteria longum, etc.	4 months	(1)(2)(5)(6)

(1) = FBG; (2) = HbA1c; (3) = QUICKI; (4) = HOMA-IR; (5) = TC; (6) = TG; (7) = HDL-C; (8) = LDL-C.