The Effects of Cranberry Consumption on Glycemic and Lipid Profiles in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Xiangrui Li, Wenqing Chen, Jiayue Xia, Da Pan, Guiju Sun

Journal: Nutrients 2024;16(6):782

PMID: 38542695

Plain Language Summary

Cranberries are a low-calorie food rich in bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins, known for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether cranberry consumption has lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic effects, particularly across different subgroups. Results showed a significant reduction in the total cholesterol (TC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and HOMA-IR levels in cranberry groups. However, pooled analyses did not find significant effects on individual blood lipid and glycaemic biomarkers (TC, low-DL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, and fasting insulin). The subgroup analysis revealed that cranberry supplementation in tablet, powder, or capsule form significantly lowered fasting insulin, while other forms showed no significant effects. The authors concluded that cranberry consumption may improve lipid profiles and insulin resistance, but further high-quality randomised controlled studies are needed to determine optimal dosages and polyphenol content for clinical effectiveness.

Abstract

This study aims to update the evidence and clarify whether cranberry possesses lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic properties in humans. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to identify relevant articles published up to December 2023. In total, 3145 publications were reviewed and 16 of them were included for qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. Stata 15.0 and Review Manager 5.4 were applied for statistical analyses. The results revealed a significant decrease in the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL-C) (MD = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.45, -0.04; = 0.02) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD = -0.59; 95% CI: -1.05, -0.14; = 0.01) with cranberry consumption. However, it did not influence total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting insulin. In subgroup analysis, cranberry consumption in dried form (capsules, powder, and tablets) was found to significantly decrease the fasting insulin level (three studies, one hundred sixty-five participants, MD = -2.16; 95% CI: -4.24, -0.07; = 0.04), while intervention duration, health conditions, and dosage of polyphenols and anthocyanins had no impact on blood lipid and glycemic parameters. In summary, cranberry might have potential benefits in regulating lipid and glucose profiles.

Address: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.

DOI: 10.3390/nu16060782

Patient Centred Factor

Triggers: Cranberry consumption

Clinical Imbalances

Hormonal Immune and inflammation

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Diet

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Insulin resistance Polyphenols Cholesterol LDL Lipids Oxidative stress Cardiovascular disease Glucose metabolism Anthocyanins Lipid metabolism Flavonoids Phenolic acids Triglyceride Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol High-density lipoprotein cholesterol Triacylglycerols Hypoglyceamic Tannins

Bioactive Substances

Polyphenols Anthocyanins Flavonoids Phenolic acids Tannins

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https://assays.cancer.gov/non-CPTAC-3953

MeSH Terms: Humans, Anthocyanins, Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, HDL, Insulin, Lipids, Plant Extracts, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Triglycerides, Vaccinium macrocarpon