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

Aim: To determine if the black tea is more effective in serum lipid profile that placebo in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Data sources: The databases Medline, Central, Embase, Lilacs, Cinahl, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched from inception up to January 2019. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: RCTs that compared black tea versus placebo, that included serum lipid profile outcomes in subjects older than 18 years of age with hypercholesterolemia. Results: 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. Conclusion: In the short term, no significant differences were found in lipid serum profile comparing black tea consumption with placebo.