Orange juice intake and lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Dyslipidaemia is a metabolic anomaly which has been related to numerous morbidities. Orange juice (OJ) is a popular flavonoid-rich drink consumed worldwide. Due to the existing controversies regarding its impact on blood lipids, we decided to investigate the impact of OJ supplementation on lipid profile parameters. Major scientific databases (Cochrane library, Scopus, PubMed and Embase) were searched. Pooled effects sizes were reported as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Out of 6334 articles retrieved by the initial search, 9 articles met our inclusion criteria. Overall, supplementation with OJ did not exert any significant effects on blood levels of TG (WMD -1·53 mg/dl, 95 % CI -6·39, 3·32, P = 0·536), TC (WMD -5·91 mg/dl, 95 % CI -13·26, 1·43, P = 0·114) or HDL-C (WMD 0·61 mg/ dl, 95 % CI -0·61, 1·82, P = 0·333). OJ consumption did reduce LDL-C levels significantly (WMD -8·35 mg/dl, 95 % CI -15·43, -1·26, P = 0·021). Overall, we showed that the consumption of OJ may not be beneficial in improving serum levels of TG, TC or HDL-C. Contrarily, we showed that daily intake of OJ, especially more than 500 ml/d, might be effective in reducing LDL-C levels. In the light of the existing inconsistencies, we propose that further high-quality interventions be conducted in order to make a solid conclusion.