Evidence mapPaperPMID 40826142Full record

ReviewDiabetology & metabolic syndrome2025

Impact of phytosterol supplementation on metabolic syndrome factors: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Faezeh Ghanbari-Gohari, Mohammad Khaksari, Ahmad Naghibzadeh-Tahami, Ladan Amirkhosravi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diabetology & metabolic syndrome, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Beneficial Effects ofJournal of obesity · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Faezeh Ghanbari-GohariEndocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Mohammad KhaksariPhysiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Ahmad Naghibzadeh-TahamiHIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran.
Ladan AmirkhosraviEndocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. l.amirkhosravi@kmu.ac.ir.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhytosterols (PSs), plant-like organic structures with close similarity to cholesterol, might be useful therapeutically for hypertension, central obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia, which are components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of phytosterol supplementation on MetS components in randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

methodsA systematic search of RCTs published in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar up to October 18, 2023. was conducted according to the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items of the Guidelines for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement. The research was updated by January 3, 2025. A total of 14 RCTS of PS intervention on MetS factor were included in a preliminary screening of the retrieved literature by Endnote 21. We assessed the quality of all included randomized controlled trials using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool.

resultsPS supplementation resulted in a modest improvement in MetS factors. In particular, fasting blood glucose decreased by about 2%, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3-5%, and triglyceride levels dropped by 19-24%. Waist circumference and HDL cholesterol changes were slight, negligible in most cases.

conclusionPS supplementation appears to improve blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and other features of MetS. These findings differ from study to study, and treatment periods were frequently shorter. To fully comprehend the long-term advantages, further well-designed research is required.

Indexed as

And randomized controlled trialBlood glucose levelBlood pressureDietary supplementsLipid metabolismPhytosterolsWaist circumference

Identifiers

PMID40826142
PMCPMC12360013

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.