Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (603 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Products in capsule, tablet or liquid form that provide dietary ingredients, and that are intended to be taken by mouth to increase the intake of nutrients. Dietary supplements can include macronutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; and/or micronutrients, such as vitamins; minerals; and phytochemicals.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Dietary Supplement; Supplements, Dietary; Dietary Supplementations; Supplementations, Dietary; Food Supplementations; Food Supplements; Food Supplement; Supplement, Food.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Food
- Narrower topics
- Prebiotics; Probiotics; Yeast, Dried
- See also
- Functional Food
Related concepts
- Micronutrients
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Phytochemicals
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 127,260 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Dietary Supplements” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 51,151 of them (40.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 52,049 records.
Reviews account for 28,127 records (22.1%) and meta-analyses for 5,009. Randomized controlled trials number 19,028 (15.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 2,285 |
| 2000-2009 | 21,775 |
| 2010-2019 | 52,049 |
| 2020 onward | 51,151 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 28,127 | 22.1% |
| Meta-analyses | 5,009 | 3.9% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 19,028 | 15.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Dietary Supplements"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niche exclusion of a lung pathogen in mice with designed probiotic communities | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc0 PMID 42550883 · DOI · PMC13436956 |
| Melanocortin Receptor Signaling Modulates Anti-Obesity and Glucose Tolerance Effects of Hafnia alvei 4597 Probiotic Strain in Mice | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42589617 · DOI · PMC13467215 |
| Eight-Week Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 4000 IU/Day Was Not Associated with Further Improvements in Speed or Power Performance in Professional Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial | 2026 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42588083 · DOI · PMC13467743 |
Niche exclusion of a lung pathogen in mice with designed probiotic communities [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- For years, the airway microbiota have been theorized to be gatekeepers of respiratory health, as pathogens entering the airway make contact with resident microbes prior to or coincident with their interaction with host cells.
- Closing excerpt
- This work serves as a foundation for the rational design of probiotic communities for protection against and treatment of respiratory infections.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (144 words)
For years, the airway microbiota have been theorized to be gatekeepers of respiratory health, as pathogens entering the airway make contact with resident microbes prior to or coincident with their interaction with host cells. Thus, modification of the native airway community may serve as a means of altering the local environment in favor of health. In this work, we hypothesize that synthetic bacterial communities introduced into the airway can serve as prophylactic countermeasures against infection by Burkholderia thailandensis in mice. We demonstrate that understanding of antagonistic interactions between a pathogen and airway microbiota in vitro can guide identification of probiotics with protective capabilities in vivo. Specifically, we show that niche overlap between the probiotic and pathogen is indicative of probiotic performance in vivo. This work serves as a foundation for the rational design of probiotic communities for protection against and treatment of respiratory infections.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc0 licence; © the authors. PMID 42550883 · DOI · PMC13436956
Melanocortin Receptor Signaling Modulates Anti-Obesity and Glucose Tolerance Effects of Hafnia alvei 4597 Probiotic Strain in Mice [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The present study aimed to elucidate whether the metabolic effects of the probiotic bacterium Hafnia alvei 4597 depend on melanocortin receptor (MCR) signaling.
- Closing excerpt
- alvei are mediated by MCR signaling.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (216 words)
The present study aimed to elucidate whether the metabolic effects of the probiotic bacterium Hafnia alvei 4597 depend on melanocortin receptor (MCR) signaling. The response to a 3-week intragastric treatment with the H. alvei bacterial suspension or total protein extract was compared between genetically similar mouse sub-strains but with different MCR sensitivity: KK and KK.Cg-Ay/a (KK-Ay)-the latter overproducing Agouti protein. Treatment of KK mice with H. alvei protein extract stimulated energy expenditure and carbohydrate oxidation but reduced lipid oxidation, leptin level, pancreatic weight, and hypothalamic insulin and leptin receptor mRNA expression. Live bacteria in KK mice reduced food intake and stimulated hypothalamic mRNA expression of proopiomelanocortin, Agouti-related peptide, and insulin receptors. In the sub-strain KK-Ay, probiotics had no effect on the aforementioned metabolic parameters. H. alvei-based probiotics improved glucose tolerance and decreased body fat and liver glycogen in both mouse sub-strains. Activation of MC4R by H. alvei protein extract was revealed by in vitro study using β-arrestin recruitment. These findings confirm beneficial effects of the H. alvei bacteria and show that, for several parameters, the bacterial protein extract may be more effective than bacterial suspension. Differential responses to the treatment between the mouse sub-strains, particularly in energy metabolism, as well as in vitro data, indicate that the effects of H. alvei are mediated by MCR signaling.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42589617 · DOI · PMC13467215
Eight-Week Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 4000 IU/Day Was Not Associated with Further Improvements in Speed or Power Performance in Professional Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background: Vitamin D is involved in musculoskeletal function, but evidence that supplementation improves athletic performance remains inconsistent, particularly in athletes with sufficient baseline vitamin D status.
- Closing excerpt
- gov (NCT07641075) on 8 June 2026.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (243 words)
Background: Vitamin D is involved in musculoskeletal function, but evidence that supplementation improves athletic performance remains inconsistent, particularly in athletes with sufficient baseline vitamin D status. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 18 professional female soccer players were randomized during the autumn preparatory period (August-September) to receive vitamin D3 (4000 IU/day; n = 9) or placebo (n = 9) for eight weeks. Outcomes included total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] concentrations, hematological variables, RAST total sprint time, 5- and 30-m sprint performance, and countermovement-jump outcomes. Results: At baseline, after summer exposure, 25% of participants had insufficient or deficient 25(OH)D concentrations (≤30 ng/mL). The remaining cohort (75%) had sufficient 25(OH)D concentrations (>30 ng/mL). After eight weeks, no statistically significant between-group differences were observed in vitamin D metabolites, hematological variables, or performance outcomes (Δ25(OH)D: SG +12.4 ± 8.2 ng/mL vs. PG +3.1 ± 6.5 ng/mL; p = 0.12). RAST total sprint time (p = 0.001) and 30-m sprint performance (p = 0.005) improved over time. Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation at 4000 IU/day for eight weeks was not associated with additional improvements in muscle strength, sprint performance, or countermovement-jump outcomes compared with placebo. Because most participants had sufficient baseline 25(OH)D concentrations, larger trials in female athletes with confirmed vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency are needed to determine whether individualized supplementation or longer intervention periods provide additional physiological or performance-related benefits. The trial was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07641075) on 8 June 2026.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42588083 · DOI · PMC13467743
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The Effect of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Function: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials [4]
- Research article Effects of Dietary Fiber Supplementation on Modulating Uremic Toxins and Inflammation in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials [5]
- Research article Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of stratified aggregate data [6]
- Research article Vitamin D supplementation vs. placebo and incident type 2 diabetes in an ancillary study of the randomized Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial [7]
- Research article Clinical effects of probiotics on the treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Effects of oral supplementation of probiotics on body weight and visceral fat in obese patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review [9]
References
- Hern KE, Phillips AM, Mageeney CM, Williams KP, Sinha A, Carlson HK, et al.. Niche exclusion of a lung pathogen in mice with designed probiotic communities. . 2026. PMID 42550883 · DOI · PMC13436956
- Zolotarev VA, Murovets VO, Sozontov EA, Sepp AL, Lukina EA, Khropycheva RP, et al.. Melanocortin Receptor Signaling Modulates Anti-Obesity and Glucose Tolerance Effects of Hafnia alvei 4597 Probiotic Strain in Mice. . 2026. PMID 42589617 · DOI · PMC13467215
- Michalczyk MM, Gepfert M, Roczniok R, Zydek G. Eight-Week Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 4000 IU/Day Was Not Associated with Further Improvements in Speed or Power Performance in Professional Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial. . 2026. PMID 42588083 · DOI · PMC13467743
- Zandifar A, Badrfam R, Mohammaditabar M, Kargar B, Goodarzi S, Hajialigol A, et al.. The Effect of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Function: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Brain Behav. 2025. PMID 40038860 · DOI · PMC11879892
- Wathanavasin W, Cheungpasitporn W, Thongprayoon C, Fülöp T. Effects of Dietary Fiber Supplementation on Modulating Uremic Toxins and Inflammation in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Toxins (Basel). 2025. PMID 39998074 · DOI · PMC11860371
- Jolliffe DA, Camargo CA, Sluyter JD, Aglipay M, Aloia JF, Bergman P, et al.. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of stratified aggregate data. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2025. PMID 39993397 · DOI · PMC12056739
- Tobias DK, Pradhan AD, Duran EK, Li C, Song Y, Buring JE, et al.. Vitamin D supplementation vs. placebo and incident type 2 diabetes in an ancillary study of the randomized Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial. Nat Commun. 2025. PMID 40199888 · DOI · PMC11978796
- Benavides-Reyes C, Cabello I, Magán-Fernández A, Rodríguez-Barranco M, Usta SN, Mesa F. Clinical effects of probiotics on the treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2025. PMID 40186219 · DOI · PMC11971800
- Guo M, Li J, Zhang L, Chen C, Wei Y, Shen ZA. Effects of oral supplementation of probiotics on body weight and visceral fat in obese patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Sci Rep. 2025. PMID 39984625 · DOI · PMC11845779
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.