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The effects of purslane consumption on blood pressure in adults: A grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

  • 2025-10
  • Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 30(1)
    • Mahdi Vajdi
    • Negin Tahvilian
    • Shirin Hassanizadeh
    • Malihe Jafari
    • Gholamreza Askari

Study Design

Type
Review
Population
adults (≥18 years)
Methods
Comprehensive literature search on Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases; random-effect model used to estimate weighted mean difference and 95% CI; included RCTs with parallel or crossover designs, control group, purslane consumption as intervention

Background

Results from different studies on the effects of purslane consumption on blood pressure (BP) are still debated. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated the overall effects of purslane consumption on systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP).

Materials and methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases. A random-effect model was used to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each outcome. Between studies heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 test. Prespecified subgroup analyses were performed to examine heterogeneity across sample size, age, sex, dosage, duration, and health status. This meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults (≥18 years) with either parallel or crossover designs. Studies must have included a control group, with the only intervention being purslane consumption and reported data suitable for calculating BP outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of Bias Tool and evidence certainty was rated through the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results

Five trials were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that purslane consumption significantly reduced SBP (WMD: -3.06 mmHg, 95% CI: -6.02 to - 0.11, P = 0.042; I2 = 95.5%, P < 0.001). However, purslane consumption did not change DBP (WMD: -0.62 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.01-0.87 P = 0.386; I2 = 81.7%, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, after subgroup analysis a significant decrease in DBP levels was observed among participants who were older than 40 years, had diabetes, and underwent a 12-week intervention. According to the GRADE assessment, the certainty of evidence for SBP was rated as moderate due to serious concerns about indirectness, whereas the evidence for DBP was rated as low quality because of significant limitations related to both imprecision and indirectness.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that purslane consumption may have a modest but clinically significant effect on reducing SBP compared to placebo and may improve DBP in specific subgroups. Given that even small reductions in SBP are associated with important reductions in cardiovascular risk, purslane may represent a promising complementary nutritional strategy for BP management. However, further well-designed RCTs with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these effects and assess their long-term clinical significance.

Research Insights

  • Portulaca→Reduced Diastolic Blood Pressure

    However, purslane consumption did not change DBP (WMD: -0.62 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.01-0.87 P = 0.386; I2 = 81.7%, P < 0.001).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Portulaca→Reduced Systolic Blood Pressure

    Pooled analysis showed that purslane consumption significantly reduced SBP (WMD: -3.06 mmHg, 95% CI: -6.02 to - 0.11, P = 0.042; I2 = 95.5%, P < 0.001).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
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