The beneficial effects of psyllium on cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis is to investigate the impact of psyllium on cardiovascular risk factors. From 2022 to 2023, we searched ISI Web of Science (WOS), PubMed, and Scopus for related publications, including randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the effect of psyllium on cardiovascular risk factors in adults. Psyllium significantly decreased Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR): (WMD: -1.17; 95 CI: -2.11, -0.23; p < 0.05), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c): (WMD: -0.75; 95 CI: -1.21, -0.29; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP): (WMD): -2.24; 95 CI: -3.13, -1.35; p < 0.05), fasting blood sugar (FBS): (WMD: -6.89; 95 CI: -10.62, -3.16; p < 0.001), Total cholesterol: (WMD): -9.05; 95 CI: -13.71, -4.40; p < 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC): (WMD: -8.55; 95 CI: -12.92, -4.19; p < 0.0001), and increased weight: (WMD: 3.57; 95 CI: 1.43, 5.72; p < 0.05).