Abstract
- Background and Aims
Emblica officinalis (Amla), or Indian gooseberry, is a botanical agent extensively utilized in traditional medical systems due to its purported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties. However, clinical evidence regarding its precise therapeutic efficacy in preventing and managing metabolic abnormalities linked to chronic diseases remains ambiguous. This systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to rigorously examine the effects of Amla supplementation on serum lipid profiles, glycemic control, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in adult populations.
- Methods
A comprehensive systematic search was executed across major electronic databases—including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and ISI Web of Science—capturing all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to December 2022. Effect sizes were quantified using mean differences (MD), while weighted mean differences (WMD) alongside 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated utilizing a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were further conducted based on baseline biochemical indicator concentrations to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.
- Results
Five randomized controlled trials involving adult populations (aged 40–58 years with an average body mass index of 25.5 kg/m$^2$ and intervention durations ranging from 3 to 12 weeks) met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Pooled quantitative evaluations demonstrated that Amla supplementation elicits statistically significant reductions in C-reactive protein ($P = 0.002$), fasting blood glucose ($P < 0.001$), total cholesterol ($P < 0.001$), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ($P < 0.001$), and serum triglycerides ($P < 0.001$). Concurrently, Amla supplementation produced a statistically significant increase in protective high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels ($P < 0.001$).
- Conclusions
Supplementation with Emblica officinalis (Amla) demonstrates significant clinical promise for improving essential metabolic parameters—including glycemic regulation, lipid profiles, and systemic inflammatory markers—in adults. Given the specific demographic characteristics and short-to-medium intervention windows of the analyzed trials, further large-scale, long-term investigations are warranted to validate and expand these findings.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871402123000255