Effects of Two-Spotted Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) on Blood Glucose, Serum Lipids, and Liver Enzyme: A Meta-analysis

Purpose: To perform a meta-analysis of the effect size of the two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) as a functional food ingredient on blood glucose, serum lipids, and liver enzyme levels. Methods: Based on the PICOS criteria, studies published between 2015 and 2025 were screened. The final analysis included six studies reporting 69 effect sizes. The meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA 4) and the data were analyzed using standardized mean differences. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q-value and Higgins’ I2 statistic, and a random-effects model was applied. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and the trim-and-fill method. Results: The overall effect size was 0.898, reflecting a large effect. The 95% confidence interval did not include zero, indicating statistical significance (p<0.001). No publication bias was detected, as the observed and adjusted effect sizes were identical. Subgroup analyses revealed medium effect sizes on blood glucose and serum lipid levels and large effect sizes on total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and AST/GOT. Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed more pronounced effect sizes in studies utilizing intervention durations exceeding 12 weeks and dosages greater than 50 mg/kg. Nonetheless, when balancing therapeutic efficacy, safety profiles, and the consistency of the current evidence, a dosage of 50 mg/kg or less emerges as the most appropriate and reliable intake level. Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis support beneficial bioactive effects of the two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) on blood glucose regulation, serum lipid levels, and liver function, supporting its potential as a functional food ingredient as well as a nutricosmetic and cosmetic biomaterial.