TABLE 2.
Results of subgroup analysis of included trials
| Subgroup analysis | Trials (n) | Systolic blood pressure | Diastolic blood pressure | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | p a | I 2 | p b | Change | p a | I 2 | p b | ||
| Diabetes mellitus | |||||||||
| Yes | 8 | −3.49 (−6.20, −0.79) | .01 | 0 | .71 | −1.88 (−3.51, −0.25) | .02 | 0 | .73 |
| No | 11 | −1.83 (−3.42, −0.24) | .02 | 0 | .60 | −1.65 (−2.67, −0.64) | .001 | 0 | .91 |
| Hypertension | |||||||||
| Yes | 6 | −3.55 (−6.14, −0.96) | .007 | 0 | .75 | −2.14 (−3.74, −0.54 | .009 | 0 | .82 |
| No | 12 | −1.78 (−3.44, −0.12) | .04 | 28.0 | .17 | −1.07 (−2.23, 0.09) | .07 | 30.0 | .15 |
| Sex | |||||||||
| Male | 2 | −2.84 (−6.25, 0.57) | .10 | 30.2 | .23 | −1.24 (−6.28, 3.81) | .63 | 80.8 | .02 |
| Female | 2 | −1.74 (−7.15, 3.66) | .53 | 0 | .78 | −0.30 (−5.02, 4.42) | .90 | 24.9 | .25 |
| Body mass index | |||||||||
| Decrease | 13 | −1.41 (−3.17, 0.36) | .12 | 30.1 | .14 | −1.01 (−2.07, 0.04) | .06 | 23.4 | .21 |
| Increase | 4 | −3.23 (−6.73, 0.26) | .07 | 37.1 | .19 | −2.22 (−4.12, −0.32) | .02 | 0 | .70 |
| Stable | 3 | −3.12 (−7.05, 0.82) | .12 | 0 | .69 | −1.01 (−3.62, 1.60) | .45 | 0 | .97 |
| Source of probiotics | |||||||||
| Dairy products | 8 | −3.22 (−5.28, −1.16) | .002 | 6.5 | .38 | −2.11 (−3.40, −0.82) | .001 | 0 | .84 |
| Powder | 16 | −0.93 (−2.14, 0.28) | .13 | 5.8 | .39 | −0.77 (−1.54, 0.01) | .054 | 1.3 | .44 |
| Species of probiotics | |||||||||
| Single | 13 | −2.61 (−4.36, −0.87) | .003 | 0 | .55 | −1.86 (−2.89, −0.84) | .0004 | 0 | .20 |
| Two or more | 12 | −2.50 (−4.04, −0.95) | .002 | 0 | .67 | −0.72 (−1.74, 0.29) | .16 | 0 | .45 |
a
The p value is given for the comparison between the probiotic and control groups.
b
The p value is given for the heterogeneity between studies.