Effects of photobiomodulation on multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of randomized clinical trials

作者：Yejun Son, Hyeri Lee, Seungyeong Yu, Hyeon Jin Kim, Jaeyu Park, Selin Woo, Hayeon Lee, Guillaume Fond, Laurent Boyer, Masoud Rahmati, Lee Smith, Guillermo F. López Sánchez, Elena Dragioti, Jiseung Kang, Tae Kim, Dong Keon Yon · 发表于：Systematic Reviews · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s13643-025-02902-3 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine、Oral health in cancer treatment、Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive therapy increasingly used for pain, inflammation, and tissue repair, yet a comprehensive synthesis of its effectiveness across multiple health outcomes remains lacking. Herein, we aimed to systematically assess the clinical effects and strength of evidence for PBM across a wide range of health outcomes using data from existing meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: We conducted an umbrella review of meta-analyses of RCTs, searching five databases up to December 8, 2023. Two reviewers independently assessed methodological quality using AMSTAR 2 and evaluated certainty of evidence using a modified GRADE framework. Pooled effect sizes were recalculated as equivalent standardized mean differences (eSMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023495502). RESULTS: A total of 15 meta-analyses encompassing 204 RCTs and over 9000 participants were included, covering 35 health endpoints across 15 disease conditions. PBM showed significant effects for 12 outcomes, with moderate certainty of evidence supporting improvements in burning mouth syndrome (pain reduction, eSMD - 0.92 [95% CI - 1.38 to - 0.46]), knee osteoarthritis (disability, 0.65 [0.14 to 1.15]), fibromyalgia (fatigue, 1.25 [0.63 to 1.87]), androgenetic alopecia (hair density, 1.32 [1.00 to 1.63]), and cognitive function (0.49 [0.14 to 0.84]). Most other outcomes exhibited low or very low certainty due to ...