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

BACKGROUND: Exposure to air pollution has been linked to elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a marker of oxidative stress, while synbiotics-by modulating the intestinal microbiota-may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Despite these possibilities, evidence on the effect of synbiotic supplementation in mitigating oxidative stress caused by air pollution in pediatric populations remains limited. METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of synbiotic supplementation on MDA levels among 70 healthy children and adolescents aged 10-18 years exposed to air pollution. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either synbiotics (n = 38) or omega-3 (n = 32) for 8 weeks. MDA levels were measured at baseline and after the intervention. RESULTS: A significant reduction in MDA levels was observed within the synbiotic group (from 148.80 ± 80.72 to 51.54 ± 82.94, P< 0.001), although no significant difference was noted between the synbiotic and omega-3 groups (P = 0.75); however, after adjusting for confounding variables, synbiotic supplementation was significantly associated with MDA reduction. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that synbiotics may help counteract oxidative stress induced by air pollution in children and adolescents, highlighting the need for further large-scale studies to explore their potential protective role in pediatric environmental health.