Impact of D-Psicose on lipid metabolism and body weight in male rats: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The global increase in sucrose consumption due to higher living standards poses a public health challenge, as it is linked to metabolic disorders such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases. D-psicose, a natural monosaccharide and fructose epimer, is a low-calorie sweetener alternative with 70% of sucrose's sweetness. This meta-analysis used male rat models to study D-psicose's effects on body weight and lipid profiles. After searching eight databases, seven studies were selected and assessed using SYRCLE's tool. Results showed that D-psicose significantly reduced body weight gain in male rats (MD: -2.31 g, 95% CI: -3.12 to -1.50), especially in Wistar strains. However, lipid parameters such as TG and TC did not change significantly. There were trends of improved lipoprotein profiles (lower LDL-C, higher HDL-C), but these were not statistically significant. Despite the limited number of studies, D-psicose may regulate body weight without markedly affecting lipid metabolism in rodents. More well-controlled preclinical studies with standardized protocols are needed to better understand its effects and potential human applications.