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A systematic review and meta-analysis of almond effect on C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in adults.

  • 2023-03
  • Complementary therapies in medicine 72
    • Mitra Hariri
    • Bahareh Amirkalali
    • Hamid Reza Baradaran
    • Ali Gholami

Study Design

Type
Meta-Analysis
Methods
electronic search in databases with no time limit up to August 2022; effect sizes based on mean changes; DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model

Background

The previous articles have shown that the almond might reduce the serum concentration of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, the studies reported in this article aimed to assess the almond effect on serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in adults.

Method and materials

To find the related English-language studies, an electronic search was run in databases including Web of Science, PubMed, SCOPUS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane library with no time limit (up to August 2022). The effect sizes were calculated based on the mean changes for both intervention and comparison groups. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used to determine the summary of overall effects and their heterogeneity. Cochran's Q test and I-squared statistic were used to explore the statistical heterogeneity.

Results

In total, eleven studies were included in this study. The overall estimate indicated that the almond consumption had no significant effect on serum CRP level (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.28 mg/l, 95 % confidence interval (CI): - 0.81, 0.25; p = 0.29). Regarding IL-6, almond consumption significantly decreased serum IL-6 level (WMD = -0.1 pg/ml, 95 % CI: -0.15, -0.05; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The overall results support the beneficial effects of almond consumption on serum concentration of IL-6; but even so, our study revealed that the almond consumption non-significantly reduced serum concentration of CRP. We still need more well-designed trials to confirm the beneficial effects of almond.

Research Insights

  • Almond→Reduced C-Reactive Protein Levels

    The overall estimate indicated that the almond consumption had no significant effect on serum CRP level (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.28 mg/l, 95 % confidence interval (CI): -0.81, 0.25; p = 0.29).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Almond→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

    Regarding IL-6, almond consumption significantly decreased serum IL-6 level (WMD = -0.1 pg/ml, 95 % CI: -0.15, -0.05; p < 0.001).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
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