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Effects of Phytosterols supplementation on blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin levels in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Background

In the literature, there are still controversies regarding the effect of phytosterol(PS) supplementation on fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in humans. We aimed to assess the impact of PS supplementation on FBS, HbA1c and insulin levels by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all RCTs published up to May 2019 in the following databases: PubMed-MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus. The mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was pooled using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird method).

Results

Twenty-six arms from 20 RCTs were included in the present meta-analysis. Our findings show that PS supplementation decreases insulin levels (mean difference [MD]: −6.426 μU/ml, 95% CI: −7.187, −5.665, P- value = 0.000). However, PS supplementation did not have significant effects on FBS and HbA1c levels. Following PS supplementation, significant changes in FBS (mean difference [MD]: −1.942 mg/dl, 95% CI: −3.637, −0.246, P- value = 0.025) and HbA1c (mean difference [MD]: −0.059%, 95% CI: −0.114, −0.004, P- value = 0.035) based on PS dosage (mg/d) were recorded.

Conclusions

In patients with a baseline BMI <25 kg/m2, PS consumption significantly increased FBS levels. Patients who consumed 1–2 g/day of PS had a lower FBS and lower HbA1c levels.

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Acknowledgments

This study is related to the project NO. 1397/69281 From Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran. We also appreciate the Student Research Committee and Research & Technology Chancellor in SBMU for their financial support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ammar Salehi-Sahlabadi, Hamed Kord Varkaneh & Hossein Farhadnejad

  2. Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Isfahan, Iran

    Farnaz Shahdadian

  3. Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Ehsan Ghaedi

  4. Students’ Research Committee, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehran Nouri

  5. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania, TAS 7000, Australia

    Ambrish Singh

  6. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    Mihnea-Alexandru Găman

  7. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology, Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Azita Hekmatdoost

  8. Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Parvin Mirmiran

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  1. Ammar Salehi-Sahlabadi
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Salehi-Sahlabadi, A., Varkaneh, H.K., Shahdadian, F. et al. Effects of Phytosterols supplementation on blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin levels in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Diabetes Metab Disord 19, 625–632 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00526-z

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