Effects of anthocyanins on cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Open accessAbstract
Numerous clinical trials have examined the role of anthocyanins on cardiometabolic health, but their effects have not been quantitatively synthesized and systematically evaluated. The aim of our study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of anthocyanins on glycemic regulation and lipid profiles in both healthy populations and those with cardiometabolic diseases. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane database, OVID EBM Reviews, and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched until February 2017. RCTs with a duration of ≥2 wk that evaluated the effects of anthocyanins on glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and lipids as either primary or secondary outcomes were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the study quality. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were determined by random-effects models. Meta-regression, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the influence of covariates on the overall effects. Thirty-two RCTs (1491 participants) were eligible for meta-analysis. Anthocyanins significantly reduced fasting glucose (SMD: -0.31; 95% CI: -0.59, -0.04; I 2 = 80.7%), 2-h postprandial glucose (SMD: -0.82; 95% CI: -1.49, -0.15; I 2 = 77.7), glycated hemoglobin (SMD: -0.65; 95% CI: -1.00, -0.29; I 2 = 72.7%), total cholesterol (SMD: -0.33; 95% CI: -0.62, -0.03; I 2 = 86.9%), and LDL (SMD: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.66, -0.05; I 2 = 85.2%). Sensitivity analyses showed that the overall effects remained similar by excluding the trials with a high or unclear risk of bias. The significant improvements in glycemic control and lipids support the benefits of anthocyanins in the prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease. Further well-designed RCTs are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of anthocyanins on metabolic profiles and to explore the optimal formula and dosage. The protocol for this review was registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#index.php as CRD42016033210.
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Others have found cardiometabolic improvement effects of anthocyanin, catechin, curcumin, flavanol, genistein, and quercetin.
“Others have also found cardiometabolic improvement effects of anthocyanin,32 catechin,33,34 curcumin,35 flavanol,36 genistein,37 and quercetin.38,39”
From Micronutrient Supplementation to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk (2022) · cites this paper as [32]
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References 75 · Cited by 167
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Stull AJ, Cash KC, Johnson WD, Champagne CM, Cefalu WT. Bioac- tives in blueberries improve insulin sensitivity in obese, insulin- resistant men and women. J Nutr 2010;140:1764-8.
- Authors
- Yang, L., Ling, W., Du, Z., Chen, Y., Li, D., Deng, S., Liu, Z., & Yang, L.
- Affiliations
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Yang, LiPing
- Liu, ZhaoMin
- Venue
- Advances in Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-09
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 684-693
- ISSN
- 2156-5376 (ISSN-L)
- 2161-8313
- PMC
- PMC5593100
- OpenAlex
- W2755642104
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 75
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 1.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Advances in Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (81130052)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- anthocyanins, cardiometabolic health, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, cardiometabolic disease, dietary polyphenols, serum lipids, risk of bias, meta-regression, subgroup analysis, dose-response relationship, bioaccessibility
- MeSH terms
- Anthocyanins, Blood Glucose, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Sensitivity and Specificity, Triglycerides, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Postprandial Period, Metabolic Syndrome
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