The antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) are known in preclinical studies but further examination is needed to expand their potential into the clinical scenario. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed to elucidate the effects of purslane supplementation on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and biomarkers of oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome, its related complications, and other diseases. PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Embase were the databases searched. Heterogeneity was examined using the I-squared (I2 ) statistic, in which the source of heterogeneity was determined if the I2 -value was >50%. After all the screening processes, 10 studies met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed. Following purslane supplementation, CRP levels decreased significantly (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.33 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.66, -0.004, p = .047) but with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 87.4%, p = .001). Purslane supplementation did not significantly change serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (WMD: -0.353 μm/L; 95% CI: -0.920, 0.213; I2 = 50.7%), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (WMD: 0.090 mm/L, 95% CI: -0.081, 0.262; I2 = 47.1%), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (WMD: 6.54 U/ml, 95% CI: -22.150, 35.236; I2 = 70.7%). Thus, this meta-analysis showed a positive effect of purslane supplementation as a tool to decrease CRP levels, but not to MDA, TAC, and SOD levels.
Keywords: C-reactive protein; Portulaca oleracea; endocrine syndrome; meta-analysis; oxidative stress; purslane.
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