NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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artichoke

A fiber- and folate-rich thistle whose leaf-extract polyphenols repeatedly lower cholesterol in human trials.

Strong evidence 🥦Vegetables

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Strong
Research weight
Citations
8 verified / 8
Classification
Vegetables
❝
What the evidence says. Multiple high-quality RCTs / meta-analyses with consistent effects.

Nutrition per serving 1 medium, cooked (boiled, drained) (120 g edible)

120gSERVING
  • Sugars 1.2 g1%
  • Fibre 6.8 g6%
  • Other carbs 5.7 g5%
  • Protein 3.5 g3%
  • Other 102.8 g86%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).
Vitamin C10%Fiber24%Potassium7%Folate27%Vitamin A0%Vitamin K15%Vitamin B66%Manganese12%
One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
61 kcal3.5 g protein6.8 g fiber1.2 g sugar
NutrientPer serving% daily value
Vitamin C8.9 mg10%
Fiber6.8 g24%
Potassium343 mg7%
Folate107 µg27%
Vitamin A1 µg0%
Vitamin K18 µg15%
Vitamin B60.1 mg6%
Manganese0.27 mg12%
Copper0.15 mg17%
Vitamin E0.23 mg2%
Magnesium50 mg12%
Calcium25 mg2%

Composition data: USDA FoodData Central ↗

What is artichoke?

artichoke is a vegetable used for lowers total and ldl cholesterol. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Strong. Artichoke is a low-calorie, high-fiber vegetable that is also an excellent source of folate, magnesium, and prebiotic inulin. The strongest human evidence comes from standardized artichoke leaf extract (ALE): multiple meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials show consistent reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, with additional signals for lower fasting glucose and improved liver enzymes in NAFLD. Effects on blood pressure are smaller and more mixed.

Purported Benefits

✓Lowers total and LDL cholesterol
✓Reduces triglycerides
✓Improves fasting glucose / insulin resistance
✓Supports liver health (lower ALT/AST)
✓High fiber and prebiotic inulin for gut and satiety

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
Standard serving: 1 medium, cooked (boiled, drained) (120 g edible). Eat whole (with skin where edible); favour whole fruit over juice.
Active Compounds
chlorogenic acidcynarinluteolincaffeoylquinic acidsinulinsilymarin-like flavonoids

Safety & Cautions

Generally well tolerated. As a fructan/inulin-rich, high-FODMAP food it can cause gas and bloating in sensitive or IBS individuals. Artichoke leaf extract may cause mild GI effects and is contraindicated in bile-duct obstruction or gallstones (cholagogue effect); use caution with known Asteraceae/ragweed allergy. Whole artichoke contributes modest vitamin K, relevant for those on warfarin. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining artichoke with any medicine.

Key Studies

meta-analysis Phimarn 2024 (updated meta-analysis) ✓ Source
Updated meta-analysis and meta-regression of RCTs confirmed favorable cardiometabolic effects of Cynara scolymus on lipid profile and glycemic markers across pooled trials.
meta-analysis Rezazadeh 2021 (dose-response meta-analysis) ✓ PubMed
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs found artichoke supplementation significantly reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol (each on the order of ~17 mg/dL) versus control.
meta-analysis Hadi 2020 (meta-analysis, glycemic) ✓ PubMed
Pooled 9 RCTs: Cynara scolymus reduced fasting blood sugar by a weighted mean of -5.28 mg/dL (95% CI -8.95 to -1.61; p=0.005), with reductions also in insulin and HOMA-IR.
meta-analysis Moradi 2021 (meta-analysis, liver enzymes) ✓ Source
Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs found artichoke supplementation significantly lowered serum ALT and AST, with the largest effects in patients with NAFLD.
meta-analysis Zarezadeh 2022 (dose-response meta-analysis, BP) ✓ Full text
Dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs reported a small but significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (WMD ~-1.6 mmHg) with artichoke, with non-linear dose and duration effects.
meta-analysis Sahebkar 2018 (meta-analysis) ✓ PubMed
Pooled 9 RCTs (n=702): artichoke extract reduced total cholesterol by ~17.6 mg/dL, LDL-C by ~14.9 mg/dL, and triglycerides by ~9.2 mg/dL, with no change in HDL.
RCT Artichoke-Bergamot RCT 2021 ✓ Full text
Randomized double-blind trial in 60 overweight adults with mild hypercholesterolemia found that 100 mg artichoke leaf dry extract plus 600 mg bergamot phytosome significantly decreased total and LDL cholesterol versus placebo.
RCT Panahi 2018 (RCT, NAFLD) ✓ PubMed
Double-blind RCT in 90 completers with ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD: 600 mg/day artichoke leaf extract for 2 months improved liver ultrasound grade and serum ALT, AST, bilirubin and lipids versus placebo, with no side effects.
8 sources cited · 8 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about artichoke

What is artichoke used for?

artichoke is most often taken for Lowers total and LDL cholesterol, Reduces triglycerides, Improves fasting glucose / insulin resistance, Supports liver health (lower ALT/AST). A fiber- and folate-rich thistle whose leaf-extract polyphenols repeatedly lower cholesterol in human trials.

Does artichoke work — what does the evidence say?

Strong evidence. Multiple high-quality RCTs / meta-analyses with consistent effects. Artichoke is a low-calorie, high-fiber vegetable that is also an excellent source of folate, magnesium, and prebiotic inulin. The strongest human evidence comes from standardized artichoke leaf extract (ALE): multiple meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials show consistent reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, with additional signals for lower fasting glucose and improved liver enzymes in NAFLD. Effects on blood pressure are smaller and more mixed.

What is the typical dose of artichoke?

Standard serving: 1 medium, cooked (boiled, drained) (120 g edible). Eat whole (with skin where edible); favour whole fruit over juice.

Is artichoke safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Generally well tolerated. As a fructan/inulin-rich, high-FODMAP food it can cause gas and bloating in sensitive or IBS individuals. Artichoke leaf extract may cause mild GI effects and is contraindicated in bile-duct obstruction or gallstones (cholagogue effect); use caution with known Asteraceae/ragweed allergy. Whole artichoke contributes modest vitamin K, relevant for those on warfarin.

How many studies support artichoke?

NutriDex cites 8 sources for artichoke, graded "Strong".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). artichoke: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/artichoke

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_artichoke,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {artichoke: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/artichoke},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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