The effects of quinoa seed supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials

This meta-analysis was designed to determine the effect of quinoa seed on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adults. PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane library were searched electronically from their inception to February 2020 to identify eligible RCTs. We calculated the pooled estimates of weighted mean differences (WMDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using random-effects models. Five eligible RCTs representing 206 subjects were enrolled. The pooled result showed that quinoa seed supplementation significantly lowered the body weight (WMD: -1.26 kg, 95% CI: -2.35, -0.18,p= .02), waist circumference (WC) (WMD: -1.15 cm, 95% CI: -2.08, -0.21,p= .01), fat mass (FM) (WMD: -0.59%, 95% CI: -1.14, -0.03,p= .03), insulin serum level (WMD: -0.86 pmol/L, 95% CI: -13.38, -1.59,p= .01), triglyceride (TG) (WMD: -7.20 mg/dl, 95% CI: -9.52, -4.87,p < .001), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: -6.86 mg/dl, 95% CI: -10.64, -3.08,p < .001), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (WMD: -3.08 mg/dl, 95% CI: -5.13, -1.03,p= .003) levels. However, no significant changes were seen in other markers (p > .05). The current evidence suggests that quinoa seed might be utilized as a possible new effective and safe supplementary option to better prevent and control CVD in humans.