Rose hip extract and cholesterol and blood sugar
What it found
Rose hip extract had mixed effects on cholesterol and blood sugar in people.
Some trials found drops in LDL cholesterol and fasting blood sugar, while others found no change.
What they found
Studies in people
Cholesterol results mixed
One trial found rose hip extract lowered total cholesterol by 4.9% and LDL cholesterol by 6.0% compared with controls. Three other trials found no significant effects on triglycerides, HDL, LDL, or total cholesterol.
Blood sugar results mixed
Two trials found no significant effect on fasting blood sugar. Two other trials found drops in fasting blood sugar of 16.2% and 20.4%, and one also found a 13.5% drop in HbA1c, matching metformin's effectiveness.
Body fat and weight
One trial found rose hip extract reduced abdominal total fat area by 6.4%, visceral fat by 10.4%, body weight by 2.0%, and BMI by 2.0% compared with placebo. Another trial found no significant effects on body weight or BMI.
Blood pressure and risk score
One trial found a 3.4% drop in systolic blood pressure and a 17% decrease in the Reynolds cardiovascular risk score compared with placebo. Another trial found no significant effect on systolic blood pressure.
Safety and side effects
Rose hip was generally well tolerated. Mild gastrointestinal issues like loose stools and flatulence were more common in the rose hip group in one trial. No adverse effects on kidney or liver function were reported.
Animal and lab studies
Possible mechanisms
Rodent studies suggest rose hip may affect lipid-lowering through PPAR pathways and reduce LDL production. It may also improve insulin sensitivity and regenerate pancreatic beta cells, but these mechanisms are from animal studies.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, some evidence suggests that oral supplementation with rosehip extract may lead to a decrease in LDL-C and fasting blood glucose, with additional effects on cardiovascular risk markers such as systolic blood pressure, visceral body fat, and BMI.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that some evidence suggests oral rose hip extract may decrease LDL cholesterol and fasting blood sugar, with additional effects on blood pressure, visceral body fat, and BMI.
- They advise that these findings should be approached with caution due to heterogeneity and conflicting results.
- They call for more rigorously designed studies to explore rose hip's therapeutic use and to confirm optimal dosages, treatment durations, and efficacy in diverse populations.
How it was done
The authors wanted to assess rose hip extract as a possible therapy for controlling LDL cholesterol and blood sugar, given the global burden of heart disease and metabolic disorders.
They reviewed four randomized, double-blind clinical trials in adults. The trials lasted 12 to 14 weeks and tested rose hip powder in a drink or rose hip tablets or capsules, in obese, pre-obese, or type 2 diabetes patients.
What it can’t tell you
- The review includes only four small trials with different designs, doses, and populations, so it cannot show a consistent effect across all people.
- The trials used different forms of rose hip (drink, tablets, capsules) and different doses, so the best form and dose cannot be determined.
- The long-term effects of rose hip extract beyond 14 weeks are not known from these studies.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Authors work at
- McGill University, CAN
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Daily Intake of Rosehip Extract on Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Blood Glucose Levels: A Systematic Review
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Belkhelladi M (2023). Effects of Daily Intake of Rosehip Extract on Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Blood Glucose Levels: A Systematic Review. Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.51225Free full textPubMed 38283449DOI
Summary written 29 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error