{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T01:09:13Z","timestamp":1781658553692,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,24]],"date-time":"2025-01-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737676800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003399","name":"Shanghai Science and Technology Commission","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["21Y11923200"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["21Y11923200"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003399","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Scientific Research Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission","award":["202340278"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202340278"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Intestinal constipation is a substantive global health concern, significantly impairing patient quality of life. An emerging view is that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in intestinal function, and probiotics could offer therapeutic benefits. This study aims to consolidate evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assess the effectiveness of probiotics in modulating microbiota and ameliorating symptoms of constipation.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>We will execute a systematic evidence search across Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL, employing explicit search terms and further reference exploration. Two independent reviewers will ensure study selection and data integrity while assessing methodological quality via the Cochrane Collaboration\u2019s Risk of Bias-2 tool. Our primary goal is to outline changes in microbiota composition, with secondary outcomes addressing symptom relief and stool characteristics. Meta-analyses will adopt a random-effects model to quantify the effects of interventions, supplemented by subgroup analyses and publication bias assessments to fortify the rigor of our findings.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study endeavors to provide a rigorous, synthesized overview of the probiotics interventions evidence for modulating gut microbiota in individuals with intestinal constipation. The insights derived could inform clinical guidelines, nurture the creation of novel constipation management strategies, and direct future research in this field.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>As this study aggregates and analyzes existing data without direct human subject involvement, no ethical approval is required. We will disseminate the study\u2019s findings through scientific forums and seek publication in well-regarded, peer-reviewed journals.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n<jats:title>Trial registration<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>OSF registration number:<\/jats:bold> <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"uri\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.17605\/OSF.IO\/MEAHT\" xlink:type=\"simple\">10.17605\/OSF.IO\/MEAHT<\/jats:ext-link>.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0311799","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,24]],"date-time":"2025-01-24T18:38:47Z","timestamp":1737743927000},"page":"e0311799","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Probiotics interventions modulating gut microbiota composition in individuals with intestinal constipation: Protocol of a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6823-7205","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Zubing","family":"Mei","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peixin","family":"Du","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ye","family":"Han","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhuo","family":"Shao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"De","family":"Zheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,24]]},"reference":[{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0311799.ref001","first-page":"1582","article-title":"Prevalence of, and risk factors for, chronic idiopathic constipation in the community: systematic review and meta-analysis. 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