Across all 3 studies, all 3 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus plantarum supplementation on LDL cholesterol reduction, with 2 of 3 reaching statistical significance. The predominant effect size is mixed (small to moderate), with the highest-quality meta-analysis reporting a moderate effect (LDL-C reduction of 0.23 mmol/L). The evidence base is small, and no consistent dose range, study duration, or form could be identified from the available data.

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Effect sizes varied from small to moderate, and the only non-significant finding came from a small subgroup analysis (n=3 studies in T2DM/prediabetes patients), suggesting possible population-specific differences or limited power.