Like St. Mary’s thistle (Silybum marianum), globe artichoke is a variety of thistle belonging to the daisy family. It is cultivated for its immature flower, which is a culinary delight and, when left unharvested, rewards with a showy purple flower head. The artichoke leaf is valued medicinally and is commonly used in bitter digestive blends as well as for supporting healthy cholesterol levels. It is an effective symptomatic treatment for non-ulcer dyspepsia and shows promise for irritable bowel syndrome. [i]
A recent meta-analysis suggests globe artichoke could support weight management. Obesity is a global health problem that is a risk factor for several chronic diseases including cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and cancer. It also increases the risk of both COVID-19-related hospitalisations and death. Making sustainable lifestyle changes, such as decreasing calorie intake and increasing physical exercise, to combat this disorder can be difficult and many people use other various methods for weight loss, including dietary supplementation. [ii]
The systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 randomised controlled clinical trials investigated the effects of globe artichoke supplementation on body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The globe artichoke dose ranged from 100mg per day to 19.45g per day, and the supplementation period ranged from eight to 12 weeks. Globe artichoke supplementation showed a significant effect on waist circumference. In participants with hypertension the analysis revealed a significant reduction in weight, suggesting that the addition of globe artichoke could be recommended to this clinical population for weight management.[iii][iv]
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[i] Braun L, Cohen M. Herbs and Natural Supplements. 3rd ed. Sydney: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. p. 470
[ii] Hemati N, Venkatakrishnan K, Yarmohammadi S, et al. The effects of supplementation with Cynara scolymus L. on anthropometric indices: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. January 2021;56:102612. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102612.
[iv] Sawadogo W, Tsegaye M, Gizaw A, Adera T. Overweight and obesity as risk factors for COVID-19-associated hospitalisations and death: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2022 Jan 19;5(1):10-18. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000375. PMID: 35814718; PMCID: PMC8783972.
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