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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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Black Cumin and Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

Research synthesisModerate evidenceModerate effect4 studies · 4 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across all 4 studies, black cumin (Nigella sativa) supplementation consistently shows moderate beneficial effects on reducing interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. All 4 studies report statistically significant reductions, with a median study duration of 32 days (approximately 4–8 weeks). The most-studied dose range is 2000–4600 mg/day, and effects are observed in populations with metabolic syndrome, overweight/obesity, and related inflammatory conditions.

  • Effective dose range: 2000–4600 mg/day
  • Studied populations: People with metabolic syndrome and related disorders, overweight/obese women, and general populations with cardiovascular risk factors

Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Dose and duration information were not reported in 2 of the 4 studies, limiting precision of dose-response recommendations. Most studies are meta-analyses pooling heterogeneous trials; individual trial quality varies.

Generated Jul 4, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 200–4,600 (median 2,200, IQR 650–3,950) — 2 studies
Time to effect
Median: 4.5 weeks · IQR 2.8 weeks–6.3 weeks · Range 7 days–8 weeks — Reported in 2 of 4 studies
4 of 4 papers
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