Romanian and German researchers conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and included six eligible studies with a total of 415 participants.
“The results of the current meta-analysis suggest that dogwood supplementation may contribute to beneficial effects on some risk factors related to cardiometabolic diseases,” they wrote in the journal Nutrients.“Integrating carnelian supplementation into weight management programs could improve the effectiveness of these interventions, particularly for individuals who are overweight or obese.”
The overall results of the literature evaluation indicated that dogwood supplementation significantly reduced body weight, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased with dogwood supplementation.
Dogwood
WHO reports that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiometabolic diseases, are expected to account for 77% of the global burden of diseaseby 2030.
Dogwood (Cornus mas L.) has been used traditionally to treat various ailments and is gaining increasing attention as it is rich in bioactive compounds such as (poly)phenols (anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids and tannins), iridoids and triterpenoids.
Some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated how dogwood supplementation affects various cardiometabolic risk factors and have highlighted the potential benefits of dogwood fruit in reducing risk factors associated with cardiometabolic diseases.
However, according to the researchers of the new study, no meta-analysis has evaluated the overall impact of dogwood supplementation in these trials.
Reduced cardiometabolic risk factors
The researchers searched the Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases up to April 10, 2024, using the keywords “cornus mas” or “carnelian” and “essay.”
Inclusion criteria for studies were: supplementation with dogwood fruit, powder, or extract as part of the intervention; an RCT with a crossover or parallel trial design, with a minimum duration of at least two weeks; inclusion of adult participants, excluding pregnant individuals; and an assessment of the effects of dogwood on cardiometabolic risk factors.
Primary endpoints included low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and body mass index (BMI).
Secondary endpoints included body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), insulin levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
The study found that Dogwood supplementation may reduce body weight and BMIHowever, WC results were inconsistent and sensitive to study variations.
It was also found that Supplementation increased HDL-C levelsand sensitivity analyses suggested potential reductions in TG, TC, or LDL-C levels. The researchers hypothesized that anthocyanins and iridoids in dogwoods may contribute to improved lipid metabolism by enhancing fatty acid catabolism and promoting cholesterol efflux.
Supplementation has improved significantlyFBG, HbA1c and HOMA-IR, as well as reduced insulin levels. The researchers suggested that previous animal studies support these findings and indicated enhanced insulin signaling and inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes as the mechanism of action.
A study examined the impact of dogwood on blood pressure, showing significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, the research noted that the evidence in this area is still limited.
They suggested that dogwood supplementation showed promise in improving various cardiometabolic risk factors, but that further rigorous studies are needed to confirm these effects and their long-term clinical relevance.
Newspaper: Nutrients
“The impact of dogwood (Cornus mas L.) on cardiometabolic risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”
do I: 10.3390/nu16132173
Authors: Frumuzachi, O. et al.