Integrative Evidence on Sesame Supplementation for Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Relevant to Retinopathy

TL;DR

This study finds that sesame supplementation can improve blood pressure and other health markers linked to diabetes and related eye diseases.

Contribution

A novel meta-analysis showing sesame's consistent benefits on cardiometabolic risk factors despite variable supplementation duration.

Findings

Sesame supplementation significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

It improved glycemic control by lowering fasting glucose and HbA1c levels.

Sesame intake was linked to reduced liver enzyme levels, particularly ALT.

Abstract

Cardiometabolic disorders, such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, retinopathy, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, present significant health challenges globally. Recent evidence suggests that sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) supplementation may offer beneficial effects in modulating various cardiometabolic risk factors, although findings from clinical trials have been inconsistent.

This meta-analysis aims to systematically assess the effects of sesame supplementation on multiple cardiometabolic parameters, including lipid profiles, blood pressure, glycemic control, liver enzyme levels, inflammatory biomarkers, body weight, and body mass index (BMI), with the goal of evaluating its potential as an adjunctive therapy for clinical retinopathy.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases through July 2025 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared sesame supplementation with placebo or active controls on cardiometabolic outcomes.

Pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model. A total of 10 studies involving 441 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Sesame supplementation significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Improvements were also observed in glycemic control, with reductions in fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels. Further-more, sesame intake was associated with a significant reduction in liver enzyme levels, particularly alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Subgroup analyses revealed that the effects did not increase with longer durations of sesame supplementation.

This meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the beneficial effects of sesame supplementation in improving various cardiometabolic risk factors. Incorporating sesame products into dietary strategies may offer a promising adjunctive intervention for managing cardiometabolic disorders and retinopathy associated with these disorders.

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