{
  "title": "Supplement trial effect sizes",
  "publisher": "VitalRoundup",
  "url": "https://vitalroundup.com/blog/supplement-trial-effect-sizes/",
  "updated": "2026-11-02",
  "note": "Effect sizes as reported by the cited meta-analyses. A confidence interval crossing zero (or 1, for OR/RR) means the trial did not establish an effect. Population and co-intervention details are in the limitation column and determine whether a row applies to a given reader.",
  "row_count": 21,
  "rows": [
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "LDL cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−0.33 mmol/L (95% CI −0.38 to −0.27) at ~10.2 g/day",
      "n": "28 RCTs",
      "limitation": "Heterogeneity across doses and formats",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.33,
      "effect_unit": "mmol/L",
      "ci_low": -0.38,
      "ci_high": -0.27
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "Non-HDL cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−0.39 mmol/L (95% CI −0.50 to −0.27)",
      "n": "Same 28 RCTs",
      "limitation": "Same limitation",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.39,
      "effect_unit": "mmol/L",
      "ci_low": -0.5,
      "ci_high": -0.27
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "Apolipoprotein B",
      "evidence_grade": "High",
      "effect_text": "−0.05 g/L (95% CI −0.08 to −0.03)",
      "n": "Same 28 RCTs",
      "limitation": "Favourable, but not a marker people track",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.05,
      "effect_unit": "g/L",
      "ci_low": -0.08,
      "ci_high": -0.03
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "Total cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Low to moderate",
      "effect_text": "−9.05 mg/dL (95% CI −13.71 to −4.40); I² = 89%",
      "n": "41 RCTs, n=2,049",
      "limitation": "Very high heterogeneity",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -9.05,
      "effect_unit": "mg/dL",
      "ci_low": -13.71,
      "ci_high": -4.4
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "LDL cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Low to moderate",
      "effect_text": "−8.55 mg/dL (95% CI −12.92 to −4.19); I² = 88%",
      "n": "Same 41 RCTs, n=2,049",
      "limitation": "Duration and dose had no clear effect",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -8.55,
      "effect_unit": "mg/dL",
      "ci_low": -12.92,
      "ci_high": -4.19
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "Triglycerides",
      "evidence_grade": "Low",
      "effect_text": "−5.29 mg/dL (95% CI −12.14 to +1.54)",
      "n": "Same 41 RCTs",
      "limitation": "CI crosses zero — no reliable effect",
      "ci_crosses_zero": true,
      "effect_value": -5.29,
      "effect_unit": "mg/dL",
      "ci_low": -12.14,
      "ci_high": 1.54
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium husk",
      "outcome": "HDL cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Low",
      "effect_text": "+0.57 mg/dL (95% CI −0.88 to +2.04)",
      "n": "Same 41 RCTs",
      "limitation": "CI crosses zero — no reliable effect",
      "ci_crosses_zero": true,
      "effect_value": 0.57,
      "effect_unit": "mg/dL",
      "ci_low": -0.88,
      "ci_high": 2.04
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Soluble fibre",
      "outcome": "Total cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−10.82 mg/dL (95% CI −12.98 to −8.67)",
      "n": "Meta-analysis of RCTs",
      "limitation": "Effect size varies by fibre type",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -10.82,
      "effect_unit": "mg/dL",
      "ci_low": -12.98,
      "ci_high": -8.67
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Soluble fibre",
      "outcome": "LDL per 5 g/day added",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−5.57 mg/dL",
      "n": "Dose-response meta-analysis",
      "limitation": "Strongest in people starting with higher LDL",
      "ci_crosses_zero": null
    },
    {
      "category": "lipid",
      "ingredient": "Oat β-glucan",
      "outcome": "LDL cholesterol",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−0.25 mmol/L at ≥3 g/day",
      "n": "Meta-analysis of oat β-glucan RCTs",
      "limitation": "HDL and triglycerides unchanged",
      "ci_crosses_zero": null
    },
    {
      "category": "glucose",
      "ingredient": "Berberine",
      "outcome": "Fasting plasma glucose",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−0.54 mmol/L (95% CI −0.77 to −0.30)",
      "n": "28 trials, n=2,313",
      "limitation": "Almost all participants had type 2 diabetes",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.54,
      "effect_unit": "mmol/L",
      "ci_low": -0.77,
      "ci_high": -0.3
    },
    {
      "category": "glucose",
      "ingredient": "Berberine",
      "outcome": "Post-meal glucose",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−0.94 mmol/L (95% CI −1.27 to −0.61)",
      "n": "Same pooled analysis",
      "limitation": "Duration mostly 8–12 weeks",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.94,
      "effect_unit": "mmol/L",
      "ci_low": -1.27,
      "ci_high": -0.61
    },
    {
      "category": "glucose",
      "ingredient": "Soluble fibre",
      "outcome": "Post-meal glucose (T2D)",
      "evidence_grade": "Low to moderate",
      "effect_text": "SMD −0.74 (95% CI −1.00 to −0.48)",
      "n": "Meta-analysis in type 2 diabetes",
      "limitation": "SMD is not a clinically interpretable unit",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.74,
      "effect_unit": "SMD",
      "ci_low": -1.0,
      "ci_high": -0.48
    },
    {
      "category": "glucose",
      "ingredient": "Soluble fibre",
      "outcome": "Body mass index (T2D)",
      "evidence_grade": "Low",
      "effect_text": "SMD −0.31 (95% CI −0.61 to −0.00)",
      "n": "Same meta-analysis",
      "limitation": "CI touches zero",
      "ci_crosses_zero": true,
      "effect_value": -0.31,
      "effect_unit": "SMD",
      "ci_low": -0.61,
      "ci_high": -0.0
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium / mixed fibre",
      "outcome": "Stool frequency",
      "evidence_grade": "Low to moderate",
      "effect_text": "SMD 0.72 (95% CI 0.36 to 1.08); 66% responded vs 41%",
      "n": "16 RCTs, n=1,251",
      "limitation": "Fibres pooled together",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": 0.72,
      "effect_unit": "SMD",
      "ci_low": 0.36,
      "ci_high": 1.08
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "Psyllium / mixed fibre",
      "outcome": "Flatulence",
      "evidence_grade": "Low to moderate",
      "effect_text": "SMD 0.80 (95% CI 0.47 to 1.13) higher than control",
      "n": "Same 16 RCTs",
      "limitation": "The fibre that helped stool frequency increased gas",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": 0.8,
      "effect_unit": "SMD",
      "ci_low": 0.47,
      "ci_high": 1.13
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "L. paracasei subsp. paracasei",
      "outcome": "≥1 common infectious disease episode",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.66–0.98), p=0.029",
      "n": "Pooled studies, general population",
      "limitation": "Odds ratio near 1; no effect on duration or severity",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": 0.81,
      "effect_unit": "OR",
      "ci_low": 0.66,
      "ci_high": 0.98
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "L. paracasei subsp. paracasei",
      "outcome": "Mean episodes per subject",
      "evidence_grade": "Moderate",
      "effect_text": "−0.09 episodes (95% CI −0.15 to −0.04)",
      "n": "Same",
      "limitation": "Absolute reduction is small",
      "ci_crosses_zero": false,
      "effect_value": -0.09,
      "effect_unit": "episodes",
      "ci_low": -0.15,
      "ci_high": -0.04
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "L. paracasei subsp. paracasei",
      "outcome": "Cumulative disease risk",
      "evidence_grade": "Low",
      "effect_text": "RR 0.91 (95% CI 0.82–1.01), p=0.082",
      "n": "Same",
      "limitation": "CI crosses 1 — not significant",
      "ci_crosses_zero": true,
      "effect_value": 0.91,
      "effect_unit": "RR",
      "ci_low": 0.82,
      "ci_high": 1.01
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "L. paracasei DKGF1",
      "outcome": "Gas and bloating in IBS",
      "evidence_grade": "Low",
      "effect_text": "No difference vs placebo, p=0.88",
      "n": "67 adults aged 60+",
      "limitation": "Signal only in a 16-person subgroup",
      "ci_crosses_zero": null
    },
    {
      "category": "gut",
      "ingredient": "L. paracasei TISTR 2593",
      "outcome": "Total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides",
      "evidence_grade": "Low",
      "effect_text": "No significant change",
      "n": "50 adults with high cholesterol",
      "limitation": "The outcomes most buyers care about did not move",
      "ci_crosses_zero": null
    }
  ]
}