Supplement
Roselle is a tart, deep-red hibiscus flower, usually steeped as tea, that is rich in anthocyanins, plant pigments thought to relax blood vessels and nudge the body to pass more water. Most people look at it for high blood pressure, and the evidence is strong: trials found blood pressure improved. Studies on inflammation, blood sugar and cholesterol were much smaller, and they found no clear difference for glucose or apolipoprotein A.
Sources: PMID 19298191
- Updated
- How we grade
- 11 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 5
- Outcomes
- 28
- Graded outcomes
- 1013
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 291 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammation Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 8 people | |||
| Oxidative Stress Biomarkers | Improves (the measure goes down) | 8 people | ||||
| Uric Acid | Improves (the measure goes down) | 8 people |
High Cholesterol
- Apolipoprotein A
- Apolipoprotein B: improves
- Blood glucose: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolipoprotein A No effect | NoneNo effect | 53 people | ||||
| Apolipoprotein B | Improves (the measure goes down) | 53 people | ||||
| Blood glucose | Improves (the measure goes down) | 60 people | ||||
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 113 people | ||||
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | Improves (the measure goes down) | 113 people | ||||
| Total cholesterol | Improves (the measure goes down) | 113 people | ||||
| Triglycerides | Improves (the measure goes down) | 220 people | ||||
| Weight | Improves (the measure goes down) | 167 people |
Type 2 Diabetes
- Apolipoprotein A
- Apolipoprotein B: improves
- Blood Pressure: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolipoprotein A No effect | NoneNo effect | 53 people | ||||
| Apolipoprotein B | Improves (the measure goes down) | 53 people | ||||
| Blood Pressure | Improves (the measure goes down) | 91 people | ||||
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 53 people | ||||
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | Improves (the measure goes down) | 53 people | ||||
| Total cholesterol | Improves (the measure goes down) | 53 people | ||||
| Triglycerides | Improves (the measure goes down) | 53 people |
Metabolic Syndrome
- Blood glucose
- Blood Pressure: improves
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose No effect | NoneNo effect | 94 people | ||||
| Blood Pressure | Improves (the measure goes down) | 94 people | ||||
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 94 people | ||||
| Kidney Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 94 people | ||||
| Liver Enzymes | Changes; see studies | 94 people | ||||
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | Improves (the measure goes down) | 94 people | ||||
| Total cholesterol | Improves (the measure goes down) | 94 people | ||||
| Triglycerides | Improves (the measure goes down) | 94 people | ||||
| Urea | Improves (the measure goes up) | 94 people |
Key findings
- Blood PressureImproves (the measure goes down)
- InflammationImproves (the measure goes down)
- Apolipoprotein A
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Roselle products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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Studies cited
11 studies from PubMed
- An evaluation of the hypolipidemic effect of an extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa leaves in hyperlipidemic Indians: a double blind, placebo controlled trial
- Therapeutic use Hibiscus sabadariffa extract in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. A randomized clinical trial
- Effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on lipid profile and lipoproteins in patients with type II diabetes
- Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract powder and preventive treatment (diet) on the lipid profiles of patients with metabolic syndrome (MeSy)
- The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes
- The effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on essential hypertension
- Clinical effects produced by a standardized herbal medicinal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa on patients with hypertension. A randomized, double-blind, lisinopril-controlled clinical trial
- Effectiveness and tolerability of a standardized extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa in patients with mild to moderate hypertension: a controlled and randomized clinical trial
- Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults
- Consumption of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. aqueous extract and its impact on systemic antioxidant potential in healthy subjects
- The aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calices modulates the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in humans