Cardamom consumption may improve cardiovascular metabolic biomarkers in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 125; pp. 101 - 112
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiaofeng, Wang, Caixia, Min, Ruixue, Zhou, Qilun, Qi, Yue, Fan, Jianming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardamom; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol - blood; Diet; Elettaria; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Male; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Triglycerides - blood; Oxidative stress; RCT; LDL-c; Lipids; Inflammation; ICAM-1; IL-6; Meta-analysis; TC; WMD; CVD; HDL-c; NF-κB; SD; TG; PPAR; TAC; Cardamom; 95% CI; hs-CRP; BMI
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.03.002

The bioactive compounds in cardamom have been found to enhance cardiovascular health by improving blood lipids and inflammation. We hypothesized that cardamom consumption might ameliorate cardiovascular metabolic biomarkers in adults; however, there is still debate regarding its impact on cardiac metabolism. This research was therefore designed to determine if cardamom consumption had a favorable impact on lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress indices as they related to cardiovascular diseases. A comprehensive search was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library on July 4, 2023. Using a random-effects model pooled the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The final 12 trials containing 989 participants were included. The results illustrated that cardamom consumption could improve total cholesterol (WMD = –8.56 mg/dL; 95% CI, –14.90 to –2.22), triglycerides (WMD = –14.09 mg/dL; 95% CI, –24.01 to –4.17), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (WMD = –1.01 ng/mL; 95% CI, –1.81 to –0.22), and interleukin-6 (WMD = –1.81 pg/mL; 95% CI, –3.06 to –0.56). However, it did not have significant influences on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and some indicators of oxidative stress. In conclusion, cardamom consumption can improve specific cardiovascular metabolic biomarkers and potentially confer protective effects on cardiovascular health. However, more large-scale clinical research with better designs would further validate the findings, which will offer substantial evidence of cardamom as nutritional and functional products. The meta-analysis of 12 RCTs showed that 3 g/d cardamom consumption significantly reduced TC, TG, hs-CRP, and IL-6 in adults, with no significant impact on LDL-c and HDL-c. However, because of the limited number of studies, the effects on MDA, TAC, SOD, GR, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin were unknown. Cardamom consumption may have a potential cardiovascular protective effect in adults by improving TC, TG, hs-CRP, and IL-6 levels. Abbreviations: HDL-c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; hs-CRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; IL-6, interleukin-6; GR, glutathione reductase; LDL-c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MDA, malondialdehyde; RCTs, randomized controlled trials; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TAC, total antioxidant capacity; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. [Display omitted]