The Effects of Chia Supplementation on Lipid Profile in Patients Suffering from Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Dyslipidemia is a major public health challenge worldwide, and chia seed, a nutrient-dense functional food, could be beneficial in metabolic disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess how chia seed intake affects lipid profiles. Methods. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar up to January 2024. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) addressing the effect of chia seed on triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were included. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model and reported as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results. A total of seven RCTs involving 304 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that chia consumption had no considerable effect on TG (WMD: −18.73 mg/dl; 95% CI: −55.46 to 18.00; p = 0.31), TC (WMD: −7.49 mg/dl; 95% CI: −15.60 to 0.63; p = 0.07), HDL (WMD: −2.85 mg/dl; 95% CI: −6.74 to 1.05; p = 0.15), and LDL (WMD: −8.09 mg/dl; 95% CI: −18.17 to 1.99; p = 0.11). However, subgroup analyses indicated that chia could decrease TC in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and LDL in patients with obesity. Conclusion. Chia consumption had no effect on lipid profiles including triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. Nevertheless, patients with obesity and T2DM might benefit from its supplementation.