The mechanism of probiotics in pregnancy outcomes in overweight or obese pregnant women based on meta-analysis, network pharmacology and molecular docking.

2025-08-26
BMC pregnancy and childbirth 25(1)

PubMed: 40859213
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-025-07999-x

Study Design

Type: Meta-Analysis
Sample size: n = 1,563
Population: Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1563 participants
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles up to May 30, 2025. Revman 5.4 was used for the meta-analysis. In network pharmacology, the gutMGene database was used to obtain the bioactive components of probiotics, and the SwissTargetPrediction platform was used to predict the targets of the active components. The related targets of diseases were obtained through OMIM and GeneCards databases and the bioactive compound-target network was constructed. AutoDockTools software was used for molecular docking verification.

Background

The prevalence of obesity among women of reproductive age is increasing worldwide. Obesity significantly increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The effectiveness of probiotics in improving the pregnancy outcomes of overweight or obese pregnant women is still controversial.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles up to May 30, 2025. Revman 5.4 was used for the meta-analysis. In network pharmacology, the gutMGene database was used to obtain the bioactive components of probiotics, and the SwissTargetPrediction platform was used to predict the targets of the active components. The related targets of diseases were obtained through OMIM and GeneCards databases and the bioactive compound-target network was constructed. AutoDockTools software was used for molecular docking verification.

Results

Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1563 participants were included in the meta-analysis.The results showed no significant difference between probiotic and control in improving adverse pregnancy outcomes.However, subgroup analyses indicated that the combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus significantly reduced the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.30,0.96], P = 0.04). Network pharmacology identified 46 bioactive metabolites and 166 targets. The key bioactive metabolites of probiotics were arctigenin, aglycone, 10-Oxo-11-octadecenoic acid, doconexent, 10-keto-12Z-octadecenoic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, ponciretin, caffeic acid, and equol. The core targets were STAT3, ESR1, HSP90AA1, CCND1, AKT1, EGFR, BCL2, SRC, MTOR, and TP53. Molecular docking validated high-affinity interactions.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that probiotics can improve some adverse pregnancy outcomes in overweight or obese pregnant women through multiple components, targets and pathways, and provide a basis for further research. In the future, more in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to verify the efficacy of probiotics. The study has been registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) under the number CRD42024576090.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	No Improvement in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes	Neutral	Small	View source The results showed no significant difference between probiotic and control in improving adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	Reduced Risk of Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth	Beneficial	Small	View source subgroup analyses indicated that the combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus significantly reduced the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.30,0.96], P = 0.04).
Bifidobacterium breve Bb-18	—	Reduced Risk of Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth	Beneficial	Small	View source subgroup analyses indicated that the combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus significantly reduced the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.30,0.96], P = 0.04).
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	—	No Improvement in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes	Neutral	Small	View source The results showed no significant difference between probiotic and control in improving adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118	—	Reduced Risk of Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth	Beneficial	Small	View source subgroup analyses indicated that the combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus significantly reduced the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.30,0.96], P = 0.04).