Effect of Dietary Intervention With Berries on Anthropometric Indices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials Publisher Pubmed



Nikbakht Jam I ; Arzhang P ; Azadbakht L
Source: Nutrition Reviews Published:2026

Abstract

Context: Cardiovascular protective properties of berries have been reported in numerous studies. Berries and their bioactive compounds may also be effective for improving body composition and anthropometric indices. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to investigate the effect of berries on anthropometric markers. Data Sources: A systematic search for studies published before June 2024 was conducted in 4 electronic databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar—to find randomized controlled trials that used berries or their extract as the intervention. Data Extraction: Data from 42 intervention arms from 38 studies were included in the analysis. Data Analysis: The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in body mass index (weighted mean difference [WMD] = –0.13 [95% CI, –0.22 to –0.04]; P = .004) and in body fat percentage (WMD = –0.50 [95% CI, –0.77 to –0.23]; P = .000) and body fat mass (WMD = –0.67 [95% CI, –1.19 to –0.16]; P = .010). No significant changes were observed in weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or fat-free mass. Conclusion: The results indicate the potential of berries to improve body mass index and body fat percentage; however, due to limited data, more well-designed studies are recommended. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration No. CRD42024556011. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)