Probiotics and eating disorders: a systematic review of humans and animal model studies

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that significantly impact physical and mental well-being. Current research suggests a potential link between eating disorders and the gut microbiota, highlighting the role of gut-brain communication and its influence on nutrient absorption. Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria, have shown promise in modulating the gut microbiota and may offer complementary interventions in the treatment of eating disorders.

A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, from inception to January 2024 to analyze the existing literature on the effects of probiotic supplementation in eating disorders. The search strategy included terms related to probiotics, prebiotics, eating disorders, and food addiction. The human studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane tool. The quality of animal studies was evaluated using the risk of bias (RoB) tool from the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation.

Of the 417 papers, 12 eligible studies were included comprising five animal and seven clinical studies. Clinical trials ranged from 10 to 20 weeks and were randomized and parallel-arm design. The included studies varied in terms of sample characteristics, intervention types, and outcome measures. Preliminary findings suggest that probiotics may influence gut microbiota composition and may offer support in the treatment of eating disorders.

The reviewed studies showed that probiotic supplementation may have a role in reducing food addiction and binge eating, and enhancing satiety, regulating food intake as well as positively affecting mood. However, further studies with better quality and larger sample size are needed to further validate these findings.