A systematic review and meta-analysis of available evidence was conducted to obtain a conclusive result on the lipid-modulating effects of resveratrol. Seven randomized controlled trials with a total of 282 subjects (141 in each group) met the eligibility criteria. Overall, resveratrol supplementation had no significant effect on any of the lipid parameters assessed: total cholesterol (weighted mean difference [WMD] -8.70; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] -21.54-4.14; P = 0.18), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD -3.22; 95% CI -12.56-6.12); P = 0.50), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD -0.26; 95% CI -4.25-3.73; P = 0.90), and triglycerides (WMD -4.30; 95% CI -20.22-11.63; P = 0.60). These results were robust in sensitivity analysis and were not dependent on the resveratrol dose, the duration of supplementation, or the cardiovascular risk status of the population studied. While future large-scale, well-designed trials are warranted, the current evidence suggests that mechanisms other than hypolipidemic effects account for the established cardioprotective properties of resveratrol. © 2013 International Life Sciences Institute.
