Mexican Ancestral Foods (Theobroma cacao, Opuntia ficus indica, Persea americana and Phaseolus vulgaris) Supplementation on Anthropometric, Lipid and Glycemic Control Variables in Obese Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Academic Article in Scopus
Diet containing Mexican ancestral foods such as cocoa, nopal, avocado, and common bean have been individually reported to have beneficial effects on obesity and comorbidities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of Mexican ancestral foods on the anthropometric, lipid, and glycemic control variables in obese patients was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model. Results: We selected 4664 articles from an initial search, of which only fifteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Data for 1670 participants were analyzed: 843 in the intervention group and 827 in the control group. A significant reduction in body mass index (mean difference: ¿0.80 (¿1.31 to ¿0.30)) (95% confidence interval), p = 0.002, heterogeneity I2 = 92% was showed after the ingestion of cocoa, nopal, avocado, or common bean. The mean difference for body weight was ¿0.57 (¿1.93 to 0.79), waist of circumference: ¿0.16 (¿2.54 to ¿2.21), total cholesterol: ¿5.04 (¿11.5 to 1.08), triglycerides: ¿10.11 (¿27.87 to 7.64), fasting glucose: ¿0.81 (¿5.81 to 4.19), and insulin: ¿0.15 (¿0.80 to 0.50). Mexican ancestral food supplementation seems to improve anthropometric, lipid, and glycemic control variables in obesity; however, more randomized controlled trials are needed to have further decisive evidence about dosage and method of supplementation and to increase the sample size.
