Black Cumin and Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

Across all 3 studies (all meta-analyses), Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) supplementation consistently showed beneficial effects on reducing Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), with all 3 reporting statistically significant reductions. Effect sizes were predominantly moderate to large, and the strongest evidence (highest-rated study) used a dose range of 200 to 4600 mg/day over 7 days in a broad population of 5,026 participants, though limited duration data suggest effects may appear early. The evidence base is small and uniformly positive, raising concerns about publication bias.

• Effective dose range: 200 to 4600 mg/day
• Studied populations: participants with metabolic syndrome and related conditions; general population in cardiovascular risk studies

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 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. No form data was extracted, so differences by supplement form (e.g., oil vs. powder, seed vs. extract) could not be assessed.