Table 3.
Characteristics of the articles that were included in the analysis.
| Author, Year | Study Design | Population Healthy/Unhealthy | Smoking Habits | Age (Mean ± SD) | Treatment Groups | Follow-Up | Clinical Parameters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali et al. 2011 [21] # | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study | Males and Females Metabolic syndrome | Non smokers | 56.9 ± 11.2 56.9 ± 11.2 56.9 ± 11.2 |
Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 60) Encapsulated FV concentrate and berry juice (n = 60) Placebo (n = 60) |
8 weeks | TC, LDL, BMI |
| Antal et al. 2008 [22] | Parallel-group trial | Female Obese | - | 53.0 ± 7.62 40.3 ± 8.89 |
Jerusalem artichoke (n = 17) Placebo (n = 6) |
12 weeks | TC, LDL |
| Cesar et al. 2010 [44] * | Placebo-controlled study | Males and females Healthy or Hypercholesterolemia | - | 35.8 ± 11.6 44.0 ± 12.0 |
Orange juice (n = 31) No treatment (n = 8) |
60 days | TC, LDL, BMI |
| Cesar et al. 2010B [44] * | Placebo-controlled study | Males and females Hypercholesterolemia | - | 42.3 ± 14.2 44.0 ± 12.0 |
Orange juice (n = 14) No treatment (n = 8) |
60 days | TC, LDL, BMI |
| George et al. 2012 [45] | Randomized, single-blind, controlled, crossover dietary intervention | Males and females Healthy | - | 45.0 ± 10.0 45.0 ± 10.0 |
Fruit and vegetable (n = 39) Placebo (n = 39) |
6 weeks | TC, LDL, HCY, SBP, BMI |
| Lamprecht et al. 2007 [23] | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Male Healthy | - | 34.3 ± 5.1 33.8 ± 5.7 |
Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 21) Placebo (n = 20) |
28 weeks | TNF-α |
| Lamprecht et al. 2013 [24] | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Females Obese | Non smokers | 40.8 ± 3.7 41.3 ± 4.2 |
Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 21) Placebo (n = 21) |
8 weeks | TNF-α |
| Lynn et al. 2014 [46] | Parallel, open-label study | Males and females Healthy | Non smokers | 38.3 ± 6.16 37.2 ± 5.78 |
Cherry juice (n = 24) Placebo (n = 19) |
6 weeks | TC, SBP |
| Novembrino et al. 2011 [47] | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Males and females Healthy | Smokers | 46.6 ± 7.9 51.4 ± 12.0 |
Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 26) Placebo (n = 25) |
3 months | TC |
| Panunzio et al. 2003 [48] | Randomized, crossover study | Males and females Healthy | - | 20–56 20–56 |
Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 14) Placebo (n = 10) |
4 weeks | HCY |
| Plotnick et al. 2003 [49] | Randomized, double-blind study | Males and females Healthy | Non smokers | - | Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 14) Placebo (n = 10) |
4 weeks | LDL |
| Roghani-Dehkord et al. 2009 [50] § | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Males Middle hypertension | Non smokers | 43.8 ± 8.28 44.1 ± 8.74 43.7 ± 7.47 |
Artichoke Leaf Juice 100 mg (n = 35) Artichoke Leaf Juice 50 mg (n = 39) Placebo (n = 33) |
12 weeks | TC, LDL, SBP, BMI |
| Van Den Berg et al. 2001 [51] | Randomized, open label, placebo controlled, crossover trial | Males Healthy | Smokers | 33.0 ± 11.0 33.0 ± 11.0 |
Fruit juice (n = 22) Placebo (n = 22) |
3 weeks | TC, SBP |
| Williams et al. 2017 [52] | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Males and females Overweight/Obese | Non smokers | 61.4 ± 1.5 57.9 ± 1.4 |
Encapsulated FV concentrate (n = 28) Placebo (n = 28) |
8 weeks | TC, LDL, SBP, BMI, TNF-α |
* In his original study, Cesar included three treatment groups: one placebo group, one active group with healthy subjects and one active group with dyslipidemic subjects. For this reason, we repeated the articles in two different rows. # In his original study, Ali included three treatment groups: one placebo group, one group of subjects who were treated with encapsulated fruit and vegetable concentrate, and one group of subjects who were treated with encapsulated fruit and vegetable concentrate and berry juice. In our analysis, all active arms were considered equal. The data on encapsulated fruit and vegetable concentrate were used to estimate the effect size of total cholesterol (TC), while the data on encapsulated fruit and vegetable concentrate and berry juice were used to estimate the effect sizes of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and BMI. § In his original study, Roghani-Dehkord included three treatment groups: one placebo group, one group of subjects who were treated with 100 mg artichoke juice, and one group of subjects who were treated with 50 mg artichoke juice. In our analysis, all active arms were considered equal and named artichoke leaf juice. The data for 100 mg artichoke juice were used to estimate the effect size of systolic blood pressure (SBP), while the data for 50 mg artichoke juice were used to estimate the effect size of TC, LDL, and BMI.