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The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials with the aim to determine and quantify the anti-hyperglycemic effects of glutamine (Gln) in acute and chronic clinical settings.

The authors conducted a comprehensive search of all randomized clinical trials performed up to December 2018, to identify those investigating the impact of Gln supplementation on fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) via ISI Web of Science, Cochrane library PubMed and SCOPUS databases. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was conducted using random effects model to estimate the pooled effect size. Fractional polynomial modeling was used to explore the dose–response relationships between Gln supplementation and diabetic indices.

The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that of Gln supplementation had a significant effect on FBS (weighted mean difference (WMD): –2.868 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –5.467, –0.269, p = 0.031). However, the authors failed to observe that Gln supplementation affected insulin levels (WMD: 1.06 units, 95 per cent CI: –1.13, 3.26, p = 0.34) and HOMA-IR (WMD: 0.001 units, 95 per cent CI: –2.031, 2.029, p = 0.999). Subgroup analyses showed that the highest decrease in FBS levels was observed when the duration of intervention was less than two weeks (WMD: –4.064 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –7.428, –0.700, p = 0.01) and when Gln was applied via infusion (WMD: –5.334 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –10.48, 0.17, p = 0.04).

The results from this meta-analysis show that Gln supplementation did not have a significant effect on insulin levels and HOMA-IR. However, it did significantly reduce the levels of FBS, obtaining a higher effect when the duration of the intervention period was less than two weeks.

The results of human studies evaluating the efficacy of plant Phytosterols on liver function were inconsistent. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to eliminate these controversies about the Phytosterols consumption on liver serum biochemistry in adult subjects.

The literatures systematically searched throughout PubMed and Scopus databases up to June 2018; it was conducted by using related keywords. Estimates of effect sizes were expressed based on weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI from the random-effects model (erSimonian and Laird method). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed by using I2 index. Eighteen studies reported the effects of Phytosterols (PS) supplementation on liver serum biochemistry.

The current meta-analysis did not show a significant effect on ALT (MD: 0.165 U/L, 95% CI: −1.25, 1.58, p = 0.820), AST (MD: −0.375 IU/Liter, 95% CI: −1.362, 0.612, p = 0.457), ALP (MD: 0.804 cm, 95% CI: −1.757, 3.366, p = 0.538), GGT (MD: 0.431 U/L, 95% CI: −1.803, 2.665, p = 0.706) and LDH (MD: 0.619 U/L, 95% CI: −4.040, 5.277, p = 0.795) following PS consumption.

The authors found that no protective or toxic effects occur after the consumption of Phytosterols on liver enzymes including ALT, AST, ALP, LDH and GGT.