Effect of the Combination of Hibiscus sabdariffa in Combination with Other Plant Extracts in the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a complex and multifactorial disorder associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, exacerbated by a sedentary lifestyle and situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies have shown that consumption of fruits and vegetables high in polyphenols has a protective effect, reducing cardiovascular risk. Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) in combination with other plant extracts has recently attracted scientists’ attention due to its potential use in the treatment of metabolic syndrome. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the effects of HS in combination with other plant extracts on the prevention of metabolic syndrome, exploring their synergistic effects and potential as therapeutic agents. For this purpose, a systematic search of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was conducted in four different databases and the data obtained were then used for a meta-analysis. Initially, the titles and abstracts of 1368 studies were read. From these, 16 studies were examined closely for their eligibility, and finally, seven RCTs with 332 participants were included in both the meta-analysis and the qualitative analysis. Our results show that HS in combination with other plant extracts improved anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and lipid profile (low density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol) compared to a placebo control group. It is important to note that although this meta-analysis suggests that HS in combination with other plant extracts may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular parameters, further research is needed to determine the optimal dose and intake duration.

Natural products for managing metabolic syndrome: a scoping review

“…In another study, Akber Aisa et al (2019) ( Aisa et al, 2019 ) found that Cicer arietinum L modulates glycemic response and regulates dyslipidemia. A systematic review and meta-analysis by García-Muñoz et al (2023) ( García-Muñoz et al, 2023 ) reported the effectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa in weight loss, reduction of fat tissue, lowering blood pressure, and improving lipid profiles. Apart from studies directly emphasizing the effects of plants on the main components of metabolic syndrome, some studies have also shown that plants can improve metabolic syndrome through antibacterial activities, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory activities, and reduction of insulin resistance.…”

Insight into the Interaction Mechanism of Vitamin D against Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis and In Silico Study

“…Meta-analysis provides notable advantages, including cost-effectiveness and feasibility compared to large-scale trials. This approach has gained extensive use in food science, particularly in investigating prevention and treatment strategies for cardiovascular diseases [20][21][22][23][24][25]. Furthermore, network pharmacology, as a methodology that reevaluates existing drugs, aids in discovering the potential efficacy and mechanisms of drugs already approved for treating new diseases, thus reducing the time and cost of developing new drugs [26][27][28][29][30].…”