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The Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation on Total Antioxidant Capacity Levels in Adolescents Exposed to Air Pollution: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Motahar Heidari Beni 1
Parinaz Poursafa 2
Golnoosh Shahverdi 3
Maryam Zarean 4
Azimeh Maghzi 5
Maryam Yazdi 6
Roya Kelishadi 7
1 Associate Professor, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Postdoctoral research fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology,Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
3 Postdoctoral research fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology,Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
4 Ph.D Candidate, Department of Biology, York University, Toronto.
5 MSc of Biostatistics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
6 Assistant Professor, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
7 Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.30467/nivar.2025.233468
Abstract
Background: Exposure to air pollution might increase malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Synbiotics by changing intestinal flora can decrease the inflammatory markers. There is lack of evidence about the effect of synbiotic supplementation on oxidative stress in children and adolescent. This study aims to evaluate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on MDA in healthy adolescents who were exposed to air pollution.
Methods This randomized single-blind, controlled trial was conducted among 70 participants aged 10-18 years who were exposed to air pollution. Participants were randomly divided into two groups that received either a synbiotic (n= 38) or omega-3 (n= 32) for 8 weeks. MDA was measured at baseline and after the intervention.
Results: MAD levels decreased significantly at the end of the intervention in comparison with baseline in synbiotic group (148.80±80.72 vs 51.54±82.94, p<0.001). In crude model, no significant changes were demonstrated in MDA levels between groups (P=0.75). However, after adjustment the analysis with confounder significant reduction was observed with synbiotic consumption.
Conclusion: synbiotic supplementation might be associated with reduction of MDA levels that may be increased due to air pollution. Investigation the effects of air pollutants on children and adolescent is very important. Further large-scale studies are required to highlight the importance of synbiotic on adverse effects of air pollution in pediatric age groups.
Keywords
Synbiotics
Dietary supplements
Air pollution
Malondialdehyde
Oxidative stress
Child
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Nivar
Volume 49, Special Issue (S1) - Serial Number 1
Special Issue (S1)
November 2025
Pages 34-40

  • Receive Date 08 April 2025
  • Revise Date 05 May 2025
  • Accept Date 12 May 2025
  • Publish Date 23 September 2025