The Effect of Antioxidant Polyphenol Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Polyphenol is considered to exert a favorable impact on cardiovascular health. Methods: To summarize the role of polyphenol antioxidant supplements in cardiovascular disease, we searched for randomized controlled trials up to 10th November 2024 that reported estimates of the effects of polyphenol antioxidant supplements on cardiometabolic risk factors. Results: Of the 17,126 participants in the 281 studies, weighted mean differences [95% confidence intervals] were derived for the intervention condition utilizing random effects modeling. Our results suggest that multiple polyphenol supplements improved cardiovascular risk markers in the overall population. For example, catechin supplementation decreased systolic (−1.56 [−2.75, −0.37] mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (−0.95 [−1.69, −0.20] mmHg), anthocyanin supplementation improved multiple blood lipid profiles, and curcumin supplementation benefited indicators of glucose metabolism. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis provides comprehensive evidence that antioxidant polyphenol supplementation can have beneficial effects on various cardiometabolic risk factors in the general population. The observed improvements in blood pressure, lipid profile, and glycemic status support the potential role of these supplements in cardiovascular health promotion. However, the heterogeneity among studies indicates that more research is needed to fully understand the optimal use of different polyphenols. Future research should concentrate on conducting a greater number of well-designed randomized controlled trials over extended periods of time to evaluate the long-term impact on cardiovascular endpoints and to ascertain the optimal doses and durations of antioxidant polyphenol supplementation. Furthermore, additional research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for these cardioprotective effects.