The Effect of Plant Derived Bioactive Compounds on Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 64; no. 18; pp. e2000473 - n/a
• Main Authors: Poulsen, Nikolaj Bech, Lambert, Max Norman Tandrup, Jeppesen, Per Bendix
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Anthocyanins; Bioactive compounds; Body weight; Cardiovascular diseases; CRP; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diet; Health risks; Inflammation; Meta-analysis; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Oils & fats; Overweight; phytochemicals; Subgroups; Systematic review; vegetable and fruit
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202000473

A growing number of people worldwide are changing their lifestyle leading to an increasing number of overweight and obese individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). With obesity and MetS come an elevated inflammatory state resulting in increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, among other lifestyle diseases. Fruits and vegetables (FV) contain phytochemicals with health beneficial effects including anti‐oxidative and anti‐inflammatory properties. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to investigate the effects of diets high in FV, and plant‐based products on C‐reactive protein (CRP). A systematic search in PUBMED and EMBASE gave rise to 883 articles, 16 of which are included in the meta‐analysis. The effects of plant‐based products and diets are investigated in subgroups including overweight, obese, and diabetes; as wells as the effect of plant‐oils and anthocyanin on CRP. The analysis shows an overall significant reduction in CRP for all articles (p = 0.0006). A significant decrease in diabetic (p = 0.01), overweight (p = 0.005), and obese patients (p = 0.05) is observed, including significant effects of anthocyanins (p = 0.001) and plant‐oils (p < 0.00001) on CRP. These findings strongly support the recommendation for diets high in FV and plant‐oils to help attenuate elevated CRP. This systematic review and meta‐analysis investigates the effects of diets high in fruit, vegetables and plant‐based products on C‐reactive protein. Subgroups including overweight, obese, and diabetes; as wells as the effect of plant‐oils and anthocyanins are also investigated. The study strongly supports the recommendation for diets high in fruit, vegetables, and plant‐oils to reduce inflammation.