Effects of Plant‐Derived Dietary Supplements on Lipid Profiles in Menopausal Women: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trials

A Comprehensive evaluation of plant-derived supplements for hypolipidemic effects in menopausal women requires robust clinical trials and integrated analysis of diverse research findings. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta - analysis to evaluate the effects of plant-derived supplements on lipid profiles in menopausal women. Relevant studies were identified through systematic searches in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and CENTRAL until June 2022. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of plant-derived supplements on lipid profiles in menopausal women were included. A total of 61 studies were reviewed, and 60 studies with 6127 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and pooled data were analyzed with a random effects model for meta-analysis. The analysis revealed significant reductions in total cholesterol (SMD = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.26 to -0.08), triglycerides (SMD = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.26 to -0.05), and LDL-cholesterol (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.27 to -0.10). Subgroup analysis revealed that phytoestrogens, particularly from soy, were especially effective. Favorable outcomes were also observed in postmenopausal women with amenorrhea for over 1 year and in interventions lasting 3-12 months. However, variations in supplement formulations and insufficient dosage-specific data limited the findings. Further clinical research on plant-derived supplements should be accumulated to clarify their effects. Despite these limitations, this review provides updated evidence and highlights promising materials for improving blood lipid profiles. It also offers insights into optimizing clinical trial designs for dietary supplements, paving the way for more targeted and effective interventions. The study protocol (CRD42022383752) was registered in the PROSPERO database.