“…Sixteen studies were initially identified; however, we excluded two studies ( Wolf et al, 1998 ) ( Irvine and Hekmat, 2011 ) after the sensitivity analysis. Fourteen studies were ultimately included ( Anukam et al, 2008 ; Arnbjerg et al, 2018 ; d'Ettorre et al, 2015 ; Falasca et al, 2015 ; Gautam et al, 2014 ; González-Hernández et al, 2012 ; Hemsworth and Reid, 2012 ; Hummelen et al, 2011a ; Irvine et al, 2010 ; Salminen et al, 2004 ; Santos et al, 2015 ; Schunter et al, 2012 ; Stiksrud et al, 2015 ; Yang et al, 2014 ). Ten studies ( Anukam et al, 2008 ; Arnbjerg et al, 2018 ; d'Ettorre et al, 2015 ; Falasca et al, 2015 ; Gautam et al, 2014 ; González-Hernández et al, 2012 ; Hemsworth and Reid, 2012 ; Salminen et al, 2004 ; Stiksrud et al, 2015 ; Yang et al, 2014 ) were included in the analysis of the effect of probiotics on CD4 counts, and six studies ( Anukam et al, 2008 ; Irvine et al, 2010 ; Hummelen et al, 2011b ; González-Hernández et al, 2012 ; Yang et al, 2014 ; Santos et al, 2015 ) were included in the analysis of the effect of probiotics on the incidence of diarrhea.…”