| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Weight and Adiposity In rodent models, lotus leaf extract demonstrated anti-obesity effects by affecting lipid metabolism and inhibiting adipogenesis. Despite consumer interest in lotus leaf as a weight loss tea, no human clinical trials have been conducted to validate these effects. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect |
Supplement
Sacred lotus is an aquatic plant whose leaves, seeds and roots are used in foods and herbal teas, and it is rich in polyphenols and alkaloids like nuciferine. The evidence is very limited, but in diabetic rodents leaf extracts lowered blood glucose and improved insulin sensitivity, and in other animal models they lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides. No human trials have tested this, so results may not carry over to people.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 6
- Graded outcomes
- 0006
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Glucose Levels In diabetic rodent models, lotus leaf extracts reduced blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity. In vitro studies demonstrate alpha-glucosidase inhibition and AMPK pathway activation, suggesting a plausible mechanism, but no human clinical trials have been conducted. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | ||||
| Depressive Symptoms In animal behavioral models (forced swim test, tail suspension test), lotus extracts showed antidepressant-like effects. Nuciferine, a key alkaloid, demonstrates dopamine receptor activity and may involve serotonergic pathways. No human studies exist. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | ||||
| Sedation and Sleep Promotion Neferine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid unique to Sacred Lotus, has demonstrated sedative effects in animal models, possibly through calcium channel blocking activity. Doses used in preclinical studies are often unrealistically high relative to plausible human dosing. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipid Profile In animal models of diabetes and obesity, lotus leaf extracts improved lipid profiles including reductions in total cholesterol and triglycerides. Effects appear mediated through modulation of lipid metabolism and adipogenesis pathways. No human data available. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect |
Body Composition
- Body Weight and Adiposity: improves
Antioxidant Status
- Antioxidant Status: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant Status Sacred Lotus is rich in polyphenols including catechins and procyanidins. In vitro and animal studies demonstrate antioxidant capacity and reduction of oxidative stress markers. Relevance to human oral supplementation remains unestablished. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect |
Key findings
- Blood Glucose LevelsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Lipid ProfileImproves (the measure goes down)
- Body Weight and AdiposityImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop Sacred lotus
Third-party tested Sacred lotus products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade D
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