TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) consumption on human health outcomes: A systematic literature review
AU - Speer, Kathryn E.
AU - Marnewick, Jeanine L.
AU - Davies, Simeon E.H.
AU - Turner, Murray
AU - Nikolova, Viktoriya L.
AU - Day, Richard
AU - McKune, Andrew J.
AU - Naumovski, Nenad
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by ADM Health & Wellness (Grant number: UC-R01583).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - Rooibos tea, traditionally consumed by Indigenous populations, is naturally caffeine-free and contains unique polyphenols with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycaemic properties. As such, a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023467829) to evaluate the potential association between rooibos tea consumption and health outcomes. Relevant articles were searched from journal inception until October 2024 using five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar) and one register (Cochrane Clinical Register of Controlled Trials). Included studies involved consumption of any rooibos tea beverage or supplement in humans 18 years or older and reported any health outcomes measured pre- and post-intervention. Following article screening and full text review, eight studies (175 participants) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and investigated the effects of rooibos consumption on biological [blood (n = 6); urine (n = 1)] and physiological [heart metrics (n = 2); muscle strength (n = 1)] health markers. Based on the included studies, the findings suggest benefits of rooibos consumption, particularly related to cardiometabolic health, with five studies supporting significant (p < 0.05) results. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the health benefits of rooibos consumption given the limited studies meeting inclusion criteria, the narrow scope of markers assessed and interstudy heterogeneity.
AB - Rooibos tea, traditionally consumed by Indigenous populations, is naturally caffeine-free and contains unique polyphenols with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycaemic properties. As such, a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023467829) to evaluate the potential association between rooibos tea consumption and health outcomes. Relevant articles were searched from journal inception until October 2024 using five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar) and one register (Cochrane Clinical Register of Controlled Trials). Included studies involved consumption of any rooibos tea beverage or supplement in humans 18 years or older and reported any health outcomes measured pre- and post-intervention. Following article screening and full text review, eight studies (175 participants) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and investigated the effects of rooibos consumption on biological [blood (n = 6); urine (n = 1)] and physiological [heart metrics (n = 2); muscle strength (n = 1)] health markers. Based on the included studies, the findings suggest benefits of rooibos consumption, particularly related to cardiometabolic health, with five studies supporting significant (p < 0.05) results. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the health benefits of rooibos consumption given the limited studies meeting inclusion criteria, the narrow scope of markers assessed and interstudy heterogeneity.
KW - Aspalathus linearis
KW - cardiometabolic
KW - fermented
KW - human health
KW - rooibos
KW - tea
KW - unfermented
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85213497668&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/beverages10040113
DO - 10.3390/beverages10040113
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85213497668
SN - 2306-5710
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 13
JO - Beverages
JF - Beverages
IS - 4
M1 - 113
ER -