The impact of chia seeds on diabetes, blood pressure, lipid profile, and obesity indicators: Systematic review and meta-regression analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials

Abstract

This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis sought to investigate the impact of chia seed supplementation on obesity indicators and metabolic factors. Through a thorough search of relevant studies up to April 2024, 14 clinical trials involving 835 participants were included in the analysis. The findings revealed a notable decrease in triglyceride levels across both higher and lower doses of chia seeds, with weighted mean differences (WMD) of −8.69 mg/dL and −13.11 mg/dL, respectively. Additionally, a statistically significant reduction in LDL-C levels was observed solely in the higher dosage group, showing a WMD of −4.77 mg/dL. Moreover, although the decrease in systolic blood pressure (-2.78 mmHg) compared to the control group was statistically significant, it was only observed with the higher dosage. These results suggest that chia supplementation may offer beneficial effects on dyslipidemia, hypertension, and body weight, potentially mitigating the risk of cardiovascular disease.