Effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on arterial XXXX : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

@entity1 @entity101 @entity13519 @entity6398 @entity4211 @entity13520
BACKGROUND: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a tropical wild plant rich in organic acids, @entity6398 , @entity4211 , polysaccharides, and volatile constituents that are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Hibiscus sabdariffa beverages are commonly consumed to treat arterial @entity101 , yet the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has not been fully conclusive. Therefore, we aimed to assess the potential antihypertensive effects of H. sabdariffa through systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of available RCTs. METHODS: The search included PUBMED, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EMBASE (up to July 2014) to identify RCTs investigating the efficacy of H. sabdariffa supplementation on @entity13519 and @entity13520 values. Two independent reviewers extracted data on the study characteristics, methods, and outcomes. Quantitative data synthesis and meta-regression were performed using a fixed-effect model, and sensitivity analysis using leave-one-out method. Five RCTs (comprising seven treatment arms) were selected for the meta-analysis. In total, 390 @entity1 were randomized, of whom 225 were allocated to the H. sabdariffa supplementation group and 165 to the control group in the selected studies. RESULTS: Fixed-effect meta-regression indicated a significant effect of H. sabdariffa supplementation in lowering both @entity13519 (weighed mean difference -7.58mmHg, 95% confidence interval -9.69 to -5.46, P<0.00001) and @entity13520 (weighed mean difference -3.53mmHg, 95% confidence interval -5.16 to -1.89, P<0.0001). These effects were inversely associated with baseline BP values, and were robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis of RCTs showed a significant effect of H. sabdariffa in lowering both @entity13519 and @entity13520 . Further well designed trials are necessary to validate these results.
