Background:Probiotics supplements provide a new nonpharmacological alternative to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. The impact of probiotics on the reduction of total cholesterol (TC) remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to showcase the most updated and comprehensive evaluation of the studies.Methods:Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database dating from January 2007 to January 2017. The curative effects of probiotics on the reduction of TC were assessed using mean difference (MD), as well as their 95% confidence interval (CI). RevMan software (version 5.3) was used to carry out this meta-analysis.Results:Thirty-two RCTs including 1971 patients met the inclusion criteria. Results of this analysis showed that compared with the control group serum TC was significantly reduced in probiotics group [MD = −13.27, 95% CI (−16.74 to 9.80), P < .05]. In addition, specific strains also significantly reduced serum TC, L acidophilus and B lactis [MD = −8.30, 95% CI (−10.44, −6.15), P < .05]; VSL#3 [MD = −11.04, 95% CI (−19.61, −2.48), P < .05]; L plantarum t ≤ 6 weeks: [MD = −1.56, 95% CI (−6.97, −3.86), P < .05] or t > 6 weeks: [MD = −22.18, 95% CI (−28.73, −15.63), P < .05]. Subgroup analysis indicated that the difference of baseline TC, probiotics forms and intervention duration might have a significant impact on the results. However, strains and doses of probiotics had no significant influence on curative effects.Conclusion:Available evidence indicates that probiotics supplements can significantly reduce serum TC. Furthermore, higher baseline TC, longer intervention time, and probiotics in capsules form might contribute to a better curative effect.

Background: By now, the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing. The development of various CKD is attributed to the continuous aggravation of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) in the process of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Oral treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the therapies for RIF. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM treatment RIF have been reported, but its effectiveness and safety have yet been systematically investigated. Therefore, through the systematic analysis and meta-analysis, our study will summarize the effectiveness and safety of oral treatment RIF of TCM, in order to provides scientific reference for clinical practice. Methods: This protocol follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Analysis. RCTs will be only selected. Such databases as the PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Excerpt Medical Database (Embase), WanFan Data, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform will be searched from the inception to June, 2020 to collect the RCTs about taking TCM orally in treating RIF. The literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data-extracted and the methodological quality evaluated will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. The clinical outcomes including renal function indices (Scr, BUN, 24-hour urinary protein quantity) and Indicators of RIF (TGF-β1, Notch1, Jagged-1). The risk of bias included in the RCTs will be evaluated by the bias risk assessment tool provided in the Cochrane System Evaluation Manual 5.1.0. Review Manager 5.3 provided by the Cochrane collaboration network will be used to process the data. Results and conclusion: Some more targeted and practical results about the efficacy of taking TCM orally in RIF have been provided by our study. The available evidence suggests that the therapeutic effects of combining TCM with Western medicine therapies is much better for RIF than Western medicine therapies only.