Celery Stalk And Leaves
Also known as: Celery stalk, celery leaves, celery seeds, celery, Apium graveolens
Overview
Apium graveolens, commonly known as celery, encompasses the stalk, leaves, and seeds of the plant, which are utilized both as food and in traditional herbal medicine. This botanical dietary supplement is rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids (e.g., apigenin), phenolics, and phthalides. It is primarily investigated for its potential in managing cardiometabolic conditions, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation. Research on celery as a supplement is moderately developed, with several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses supporting its benefits, though acknowledging variability in preparation methods and dosing. The overall evidence quality is moderate, with systematic reviews highlighting positive effects but also noting heterogeneity and limitations in sample sizes.
Benefits
Celery preparations demonstrate significant cardiometabolic benefits, supported by systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs. These include reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, alongside some improvement in HDL cholesterol. The efficacy appears to be dose-dependent, with doses exceeding 1,000 mg/day of celery powder or equivalent showing greater benefits, though even lower doses (below 200 mg/day) from decoctions have shown significant effects. Specific antihypertensive effects have been observed, with celery stem extract reducing blood pressure and heart rate, and improving serum electrolytes in both animal models and human trials. Celery extracts also exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to their phenolic content, which contributes to potential cardiovascular protection. Furthermore, methanol extracts of celery seeds have shown hepatoprotective effects, reducing liver injury markers and inhibiting liver fibrosis-related cell proliferation in vitro. However, a 12-week RCT with 750 mg/day celery powder in type 2 diabetes patients did not significantly improve cardiometabolic factors, except for a reduction in body fat percentage, indicating mixed results in this specific population.
How it works
Celery's therapeutic effects stem from its bioactive compounds, including apigenin and phthalides. These compounds act through multiple mechanisms: they function as potent antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress, and as anti-inflammatory agents, modulating inflammatory pathways. They also exert vasodilatory effects, which contribute to improved endothelial function and blood pressure regulation. Furthermore, celery's constituents are believed to modulate lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis, potentially by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines and enhancing insulin sensitivity. Thermal processing, such as decoction, may enhance the bioavailability of these compounds by breaking down plant cell walls and facilitating the release of lipophilic constituents, thereby increasing their absorption and efficacy within the body.
Side effects
Celery preparations generally exhibit a favorable safety profile, with clinical trials reporting no serious adverse events. Common side effects are rare and typically mild. Allergic reactions are possible in individuals sensitive to celery, though these are not widely reported in the literature. Currently, there are no significant drug interactions or contraindications documented in the reviewed research. However, due to limited data, caution is advised for special populations, such as pregnant women. Overall, celery is considered safe for consumption within recommended dosages, but individuals with known allergies to plants in the Apiaceae family (e.g., carrots, parsley) should exercise caution.
Dosage
The minimum effective dose for celery preparations appears to be around 200 mg/day, particularly when consumed as a decoction equivalent. For optimal efficacy, doses exceeding 1,000 mg/day of celery powder or seed extract are recommended. The timing of supplementation can be important, as intervention durations less than 30 days have shown better effects, suggesting that prolonged continuous use might lead to tolerance, and intermittent supplementation could be beneficial. Various formulations are available, including fresh stalk and leaf decoctions, powdered celery, and seed extracts, with potential differences in bioavailability. It is important to consider the specific form when determining dosage, as the concentration of active compounds can vary significantly between preparations.
FAQs
Is celery safe for long-term use?
Current evidence suggests celery is safe, but long-term studies are limited. Intermittent use may optimize benefits and prevent potential tolerance development over extended periods.
What form of celery is best for supplementation?
Both powdered celery and decoctions are effective. Decoctions may enhance the bioavailability of lipophilic compounds, potentially leading to better absorption and efficacy.
How soon can I expect to see benefits from celery supplementation?
Some studies report improvements in cardiometabolic parameters within 30 days of consistent use. Longer-term effects and sustained benefits require further research.
Does celery help with diabetes management?
Evidence is mixed. While some metabolic parameters may improve, larger and longer-duration trials are needed to conclusively determine celery's efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes.
Research Sources
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12321563/ – This systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure, glucose, and lipid parameters with celery preparations. It highlighted dose-dependent effects and a good safety profile, while noting limitations such as heterogeneity and small sample sizes in some included studies.
- https://ojs.ahss.org.pk/journal/article/download/368/391/575 – This RCT in hypertensive patients found that celery stem extract (250 mg) significantly reduced blood pressure and heart rate over 60 days. It also showed improvements in serum electrolytes, supporting celery's antihypertensive and electrolyte-modulating effects.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40765738/ – This PubMed entry likely refers to a study contributing to the meta-analysis on celery's cardiometabolic effects, reinforcing findings on blood pressure, glucose, and lipid reductions, and supporting its overall safety profile.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fsn3.3493 – This RCT in type 2 diabetes patients investigated the effects of 750 mg/day celery powder over 12 weeks. It concluded that while body fat percentage was reduced, there were no significant improvements in other cardiometabolic factors, suggesting limited efficacy at this dose or duration for T2DM.
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1934578X251325063 – This pharmacological review highlighted hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects of celery seed extracts in animal and in vitro models. It suggests potential liver benefits beyond the commonly studied cardiometabolic effects, indicating a broader therapeutic scope.