Traditional and Infusion-Based Yerba Mate Consumption and Lipid Profile in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Keywords:
Yerba mate, Cholesterol, Cholesterol, LDL, Cholesterol, HDL, Triglycerides, Lipids, Systematic review, Meta-analysisAbstract
Introduction: Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is widely consumed in South America in infusions and contains compounds that may influence cardiometabolic pathways. However, evidence on its effects on lipid profile remains heterogeneous. Objective: To synthesize evidence on traditional yerba mate consumption and lipid profile in adults, focusing on total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides. Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted across multiple databases. Human studies in adults assessing yerba mate exposure and lipid-profile outcomes were eligible. Randomized, non-randomized, pre-post, and observational studies were included for qualitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analyses were based on mean differences in mg/dL. A primary controlled analysis compared yerba mate with control comparators, and a secondary pre-post analysis estimated within-group changes in yerba mate-exposed arms. Results: Database searches identified 173 records. Nine studies were included in the qualitative synthesis; seven contributed to quantitative synthesis. In the primary controlled meta-analysis, yerba mate was not associated with significant changes in total cholesterol (MD 0.49 mg/dL; 95% CI -7.00 to 7.98), LDL-C (MD 0.74 mg/dL; 95% CI -6.10 to 7.58), HDL-C (MD -0.00 mg/dL; 95% CI -1.83 to 1.82), or triglycerides (MD 1.77 mg/dL; 95% CI -2.86 to 6.40). In the secondary pre-post analysis, yerba mate-exposed arms showed reductions in total cholesterol (-11.02 mg/dL), LDL-C (-10.90 mg/dL), and triglycerides (-6.18 mg/dL), with a small decrease in HDL-C (-1.26 mg/dL). Conclusion: Controlled evidence did not confirm significant lipid changes from yerba mate compared with comparators. Pre-post analyses suggested a lipid-lowering effect, particularly for total cholesterol and LDL-C, but causal interpretation is limited by study design and bias. Better powered randomized controlled trials using standardized preparations are needed.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Angel Ricardo Rolon, Guiomar Viveros, Carlos Rios, Julieta Méndez-Romero, Miriam Espinola-Canata, Jose Miguel Palacios, Marta Ferreira, Gloria Sebastiana Gonzalez Vazquez, Rosa Noemi Espinola, Deisy Galeano, Analia Ortiz, Catalina Segovia, Sergio Muñoz, Juan Jose Orellana, Ricardo Benitez, Shrikant Bangdiwala
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