Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis is aimed to verify the effectiveness and safety of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on body measurements, metabolic indicators, and inflammation indicators in obese patients across randomized controlled trials with various comparators.

METHODS

From the inception of databases to January 5, 2025, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, OVID, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Two reviewers independently performed the search, extracted data, and assessed study quality based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.4 software. The reporting and quality assessment of this review study was guided by the PRISMA and AMSTAR.

RESULTS

Eleven RCTs with a total of 569 patients were included in meta-analysis. The pooled data revealed that PBM demonstrated significantly improvements in body anthropometric measurements, such as waistline [MD = - 7.28, 95% CI (- 9.97 to - 5.67), p < 0.00001], weight [MD = - 3.54, 95% CI (- 5.97 to - 1.11), p < 0.00001], BMI [MD = - 1.18, 95% CI (- 1.93 to - 0.43), p = 0.002]. PBM also showed potential in the reduction of CRP [MD = - 0.99, 95% CI (- 1.17 to - 0.82), p < 0.00001], as well as in TC, and HOMA-IR, which is [MD = - 23.01, 95% CI (- 31.68 to - 14.35), p < 0.00001] and [MD = - 0.46, 95% CI (- 0.73 to - 0.20), p = 0.0007] respectively. No significant differences were found in reducing WHR [MD = - 0.05, 95% CI (- 0.1 to 0.00), p = 0.05], fat mass percentage [MD = - 0.28, 95% CI (- 1.25 to 0.69), p = 0.57] and insulin [MD = - 1.98, 95% CI (- 4.20 to 0.23), p = 0.08].

CONCLUSION

The results of our study suggest that PBM may offer potential benefits for treating obesity, showing some improvements in key indicators such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, CRP, TC, and HOMA-IR compared to exercise, dietary changes, and sham PBM. However, further theoretical exploration of PBM is needed, and multi-center, large-scale trials with longer follow-up durations and demographic range are necessary to confirm and validate the findings of our study. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024532988.

© 2025. The Author(s).