Abdominal Photobiomodulation and the Gut-Brain Axis: A Systematic Review of Mechanistic and Translational Evidence.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Bidirectional communication between the gut and brain is central to neurological and psychiatric health, and abdominal photobiomodulation (PBM) has emerged as a promising non-invasive way to modulate this axis by targeting intestinal mitochondria, epithelial integrity, and the microbiota. We systematically reviewed preclinical and clinical evidence on abdominal PBM, alone or in combined protocols, reporting microbiome, metabolic, or neurobehavioral outcomes. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 recommendations, we searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect through May 2025 for animal and human studies applying PBM to the abdomen and reporting gut-related, metabolic, or brain-related outcomes. Results: Nine studies met the eligibility c

SUBMITTER: N F Guimaraes G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12730906 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature