Enhancing Digestive Health in Athletes: Meta-Analysis of Probiotic Interventions for Optimal Intestinal Flora

Abstract

Objective: This article explores the efficacy of probiotic-assisted interventions in enhancing digestive health, with a particular focus on their impact on athletes. Originally studied in children with diarrhea, this analysis seeks to understand how probiotics can benefit athletes in managing digestive disturbances and improving overall gut health. Methods: We utilized medical search engines to identify relevant studies, assessing the quality of the literature using QUADAS software and extracting data with Revman software. Out of 439 initial literatures, 10 were selected for a meta-analysis using a random effects model. The primary outcomes analyzed were the duration of diarrhea and the length of hospital stays. Results: The meta-analysis revealed that the duration of diarrhea was significantly shorter in the probiotic group compared to the non-probiotic group (MD = -13.29, 95%CI (-20.16, -6.43), P < 0.05). However, six studies focusing on the length of hospital stay showed no significant difference when probiotics were used (MD = -0.23, 95%CI (-0.63, 0.16), P = 0.24). Similarly, there was no significant difference in treatment efficiency between the groups using probiotics and those not using them. Conclusion: Probiotic adjuvant therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the duration of diarrhea, suggesting its potential utility in managing acute digestive issues in athletes. While no significant impact was found on the length of hospital stay or overall treatment efficiency, the ability of probiotics to shorten diarrhea duration could help athletes maintain training and competition schedules. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings and to investigate the broader implications of probiotics in sports nutrition and athlete health.