Effectiveness of black tea versus placebo in subjects with hypercholesterolemia: A PRISMA systematic review and...

To determine if the black tea is more effective in serum lipid profile that placebo in subjects with hypercholesterolemia.

Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

The databases Medline, Central, Embase, Lilacs, Cinahl, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched from inception up to January 2019.

RCTs that compared black tea versus placebo, that included serum lipid profile outcomes in subjects older than 18 years of age with hypercholesterolemia.

Seven RCTs met the eligibility criteria, and for the quantitative synthesis, six studies were included. Mean difference for total cholesterol was 1.67 mg/dl 95% CI = -5.47 to 8.80 (p = 0.65), mean difference 0.28 mg/dl, 95% CI = -3.89 to 4.45 (p = 0.90) for triglycerides, mean difference 3.21 mg/dl, 95% CI = -11.02 to 4.60 (p = 0.42) for low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, mean difference 0.38 mg/dl, 95% CI = -1.12 to 1.87 (p = 0.62) for high density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

In the short term, no significant differences were found in lipid serum profile comparing black tea consumption with placebo.