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Effects of propolis consumption on blood pressure, lipid profile and glycemic parameters in adults: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2024

Hossein Bahari Open the ORCID record for Hossein Bahari [Opens in a new window] ,
Mostafa Shahraki Jazinaki ,
Kian Goudarzi ,
Zahra Namkhah ,
Shaghayegh Taheri ,
Haniyeh Golafrouz  and
Naseh Pahlavani Open the ORCID record for Naseh Pahlavani [Opens in a new window]
Hossein Bahari
Affiliation:
Transplant Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mostafa Shahraki Jazinaki
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Kian Goudarzi
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Namkhah
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Shaghayegh Taheri
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Haniyeh Golafrouz
Affiliation:
Rajaei Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Naseh Pahlavani*
Affiliation:
Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Naseh Pahlavani, email [email protected]
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Abstract

Propolis, as a by-product of honey production, has shown several beneficial effects on cardiovascular risks in past randomised controlled trials, although the findings are not conclusive. In this review, we intend to evaluate the effects of propolis consumption on cardiovascular risk factors by conducting a meta-analysis. The Web of Science, Medline and Scopus databases were comprehensively searched until September 2023. Eligible studies were identified by screening, and their data were extracted. Weighted mean differences with a 95 % CI for each outcome were estimated using the random-effects model. This meta-analysis revealed that propolis consumption led to a significant decrease in the levels of TAG (weighted mean differences (WMD): –10·44 mg/dl 95 % CI: –16·58, –4·31; P = 0·001), LDL-cholesterol (WMD: –9·31 mg/dl; 95 % CI: –13·50, –5·12 mg; P < 0·001), fasting blood glucose (WMD: –7·30 mg/dl; 95 % CI: –11·58, –3·02; P = 0·001), HbA1c (WMD: –0·32 %; 95 % CI: –0·60, –0·05; P = 0·01), insulin (WMD: –1·36 μU/ml; 95 % CI: –2·36, –0·36; P = 0·007), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (WMD: –0·39; 95 % CI: –0·74, –0·03; P = 0·020) and systolic blood pressure (WMD: –2·24 mmHg 95 % CI: –4·08, –0·39; P = 0·010), compared with the control groups. Furthermore, propolis consumption had a significant increasing effect on HDL-cholesterol levels (WMD: 2·03 mg/dl; 95 % CI: 0·24, 3·83; P = 0·020). In contrast, the consumption of propolis had no significant effect on total cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure levels. This systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis suggested that propolis intake may be effective in cardiometabolic improvement in adults. Further, well-designed studies are required to confirm and elucidate all aspects of these findings.

Keywords

PropolisBlood pressureLipid profileGlycemic controlMeta-analysis
Type
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 133 , Issue 1 , 14 January 2025 , pp. 13 - 36
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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