Effect of Dietary Intervention With Berries on Anthropometric Indices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials.

Cardiovascular protective properties of berries have been reported in numerous studies. Berries and their bioactive compounds may also be effective for improving body composition and anthropometric indices. This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to investigate the effect of berries on anthropometric markers. A systematic search for studies published before June 2024 was conducted in 4 electronic databases-PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar-to find randomized controlled trials that used berries or their extract as the intervention. Data from 42 intervention arms from 38 studies were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in body mass index (weighted mean difference WMD = -0.13 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.04; P = .004) and in body fat percentage (WMD = -0.50 95% CI, -0.77 to -0.23; P = .000) and body fat mass (WMD = -0.67 95% CI, -1.19 to -0.16; P = .010). No significant changes were observed in weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or fat-free mass. The results indicate the potential of berries to improve body mass index and body fat percentage; however, due to limited data, more well-designed studies are recommended. PROSPERO registration No. CRD42024556011.