LAUSR

This study was conducted to compare the efficiency of heat-killed and live probiotics against colon length shortness, disease activity index (DAI), and the histological score of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) via a meta-analysis. In February 2022, the eligible papers were collected from four databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus). Using common and random effect models, the effect sizes were estimated throughout the standardized mean difference (SMD). Forty-three papers were recorded for our meta-analysis, and the heterogeneity of the effect sizes was determined with Cochran's Q test, followed by meta-ANOVA and meta-regression analysis. The probiotics (live and heat-killed) had globally an improving or preventive effect on colon length shortness, DAI, and histological score. The sub-group analysis revealed that the heat-killed probiotics had statistically (p > 0.05) the same improving effect on colon length shortness, DAI, and histological score as live probiotics. In conclusion, this study suggested that live and heat-killed probiotics had a similar impact on IBD symptoms investigated in this study. The present outcomes would be a good base for researchers willing to furtherly compare the effects of live and heat-killed probiotics on IBD.