Research synthesisModerate evidenceModerate effect8 studies · 7 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful
Across 8 studies, 7 reported beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium plantarum on inflammation, with a predominant moderate effect size. The highest-quality evidence, a meta-analysis in athletes (n=413), showed a significant moderate reduction in TNF-α (ES=-0.59, p=0.001). However, one systematic review in adults with alcoholic liver disease found no significant effect on inflammatory markers, and the remaining studies are narrative or animal-based, limiting the overall human evidence base.
- Studied populations: athletes
Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive (7 of 8 studies beneficial) — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Moreover, only one study (the meta-analysis) reached statistical significance; many included studies are narrative reviews or animal experiments, so the effect in humans may be smaller or less consistent than the predominant direction suggests. Human RCT data are limited to athletes and one neutral systematic review in adults with ALD.
Generated Jun 11, 2026