Celery and blood pressure, blood sugar and blood fats in adults
What it found
In 10 randomised trials in adults, celery preparations lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and triglycerides, but made no difference to total cholesterol, LDL or HDL.
The authors say the evidence is limited by small studies and wide variation between them.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood pressure
Across 8 trials with 473 people, celery lowered systolic blood pressure compared with control. It also lowered diastolic blood pressure across 8 trials with 473 people.
Fasting blood sugar
Across 6 trials with 369 people, celery lowered fasting plasma glucose compared with control. The authors describe this effect as marginally significant.
Triglycerides
Across 3 trials with 245 people, celery lowered triglyceride levels compared with control, with low variation between studies.
Other blood fats
Celery made no significant difference to total cholesterol (6 trials, 383 people), LDL cholesterol (4 trials, 281 people) or HDL cholesterol (3 trials, 245 people).
Seeds and higher doses
Celery seeds worked better than other parts of the plant for blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and total cholesterol. Doses above 1,000 mg per day were linked with greater effect, though doses below 200 mg per day also showed effects in decoction studies.
Side effects
Six trials reported side effects. There was no significant difference between celery and placebo in severe or mild side effects, though some studies noted frequent urination and stomach discomfort.
What the authors conclude
“Celery significantly improves SBP, DBP, FPG, and TG levels while having no significant effect on TC, HDL-C, or LDL-C, with a favorable safety profile.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that celery preparations significantly improve high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood fats, with a favourable safety profile.
- They say celery seeds or preparations over 1,000 mg per day will have a better effect, and that celery performs well as a potential dietary supplement.
- They call for further high-quality clinical trials with longer follow-up to confirm these effects and establish optimal dosing.
How it was done
Celery is commonly used as a diet intervention for high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood fats, but its precise therapeutic value was uncertain.
They pooled 10 randomised controlled trials (9 studies, one testing two doses) with 511 adults, published between 2002 and 2024, mostly from Iran, Indonesia and China. Participants had high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome, prediabetes or were overweight, and celery was given as capsules or decoctions at 10.55 mg to 2,250 mg per day for 12 to 84 days.
What it can’t tell you
- The trials were small and all in Asian populations, so the results may not apply to other groups.
- Most outcomes varied widely between studies, and some studies had a high risk of bias, so the size of the effects is uncertain.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China; Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
The paper
- Title
- Effects of celery ( Apium graveolens ) on blood pressure, glycemic and lipid profile in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Type
- Systematic review
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Liu D, Zhao H, Xu H, Hu J (2025). Effects of celery ( Apium graveolens ) on blood pressure, glycemic and lipid profile in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1597680Free full textPubMed 40765738DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error