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Artichoke extract and blood triglycerides: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: Benefit.

C Limited

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: Meta-analyses whose abstracts do not separate healthy from clinical populations, with the individually read trials in people with raised lipids; the one trial in otherwise healthy adults found no triglyceride difference

Two meta-analyses found lower triglycerides with artichoke extract than with control (9 trials, 702 participants; and a 2025 synthesis), but their abstracts do not say how many pooled participants were healthy. A third meta-analysis printed a triglyceride estimate identical to its cholesterol estimate, so that number is not used. The trial in 75 otherwise healthy adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia found no triglyceride difference from placebo after 12 weeks. With populations not itemized and the healthy-adult trial null for this outcome, the proposal is C.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)2000200520102015202020252030Meta-analysisRCTSahebkar 2018, 2018: meta-analysis, n = 702, result not recordedEnglisch 2000, 2000: RCT, n = 143, result not recordedBundy 2008, 2008: RCT, n = 75, result not recordedJafari 2025, 2025: meta-analysis, n not recorded, result not recordedShahinfar 2021, 2021: meta-analysis, n not recorded, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Englisch 20002000RCT143result not recorded
Bundy 20082008RCT75result not recorded
Sahebkar 20182018meta-analysis702result not recorded
Shahinfar 20212021meta-analysisnot recordedresult not recorded
Jafari 20252025meta-analysisnot recordedresult not recorded

Efficacy of Artichoke dry extract in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia.

Englisch W, Beckers C, Unkauf M. Efficacy of Artichoke dry extract in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia Arzneimittelforschung, 2000. PMID 10758778

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial (6 weeks)
Sample
n = 143
Population
Adults with hyperlipoproteinemia (total cholesterol above 7.3 mmol/l; clinical population)
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read (tested the branded CY450 extract)

Artichoke leaf extract (Cynara scolymus) reduces plasma cholesterol in otherwise healthy hypercholesterolemic adults: a randomized, double blind placebo controlled trial.

Bundy R, Walker AF, Middleton RW. Artichoke leaf extract (Cynara scolymus) reduces plasma cholesterol in otherwise healthy hypercholesterolemic adults: a randomized, double blind placebo controlled trial Phytomedicine, 2008. PMID 18424099

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (12 weeks)
Sample
n = 75
Population
Otherwise healthy adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia, UK
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Artichoke and cardiometabolic health: A systematic and meta-analytic synthesis of current evidence.

Jafari A, Karimi MA, Mahmoudinezhad M. Artichoke and cardiometabolic health: A systematic and meta-analytic synthesis of current evidence Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2025. PMID 41270328

Result not recorded
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials (search to September 2024)
Population
Adults (populations not itemized in the abstract)
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record (declarations: no competing interests)

Effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation or artichoke juice consumption on lipid profile: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Shahinfar H, Bazshahi E, Amini MR. Effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation or artichoke juice consumption on lipid profile: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Phytother Res, 2021. PMID 34569671

Result not recorded
Design
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis (15 effect sizes from 14 studies; GRADE rating)
Population
Adults in trials of artichoke leaf extract or juice and blood lipids (populations not itemized in the abstract)
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M. Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2018. PMID 28609140

Result not recorded
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials
Sample
n = 702
Population
Adults in RCTs of artichoke extract and blood lipids (populations not itemized in the abstract)
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Search and history

Search (): (artichoke[ti] OR cynara[ti]) AND triglyceride*[tiab] AND (meta-analysis[pt])

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page