Toxicity of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on mammalian kidneys: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To systematically evaluate nephrotoxicity associated with glyphosate (GLY) and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) in mammalian experimental models and quantify the effects on renal function and oxidative stress. Methods PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for eligible animal studies through April 2026. Risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE’s tool. Standardized mean differences ( SMDs ) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and fixed- or random-effects models were selected according to heterogeneity criteria. Exploratory subgroup analyses by dose, exposure duration, and formulation, together with sensitivity analyses, explored potential sources of heterogeneity. Results Thirty-four studies were included. Exposure to GLY and GBHs was associated with increased serum creatinine ( SMD = 1.31) and urea ( SMD = 1.26), decreased SOD ( SMD = −1.75), CAT ( SMD = −1.48), and GSH ( SMD = −2.51), and increased MDA ( SMD = 2.02), whereas GPx was not significantly affected ( SMD = −0.75). Substantial heterogeneity was observed across most outcomes ( I 2 = 74.7%−81.6%). Subgroup analyses indicated variations in effect estimates according to dose and exposure duration for urea, SOD, and GSH, although no consistent dose- or duration-related pattern was evident. Sensitivity analyses supported robustness of the pooled estimates, while small-study effects were detected for several biomarkers. Conclusion Exposure to GLY and GBHs is associated with impaired renal function and oxidative imbalance in mammalian experimental models. Despite substantial heterogeneity, the evidence supports the biological plausibility of GLY- and GBH-associated nephrotoxicity. Further standardized, long-term studies are needed to clarify exposure–response relationships and improve translation to human health risk assessment.