Current evidence on the effects of palm oil consumption on biomarkers of glucose metabolism is poor and limited to only healthy participants .
We conclude that little or no additional benefit will be obtained by replacing palm oil with other oils rich in mono or polyunsaturated fatty acids for changes in glucose metabolism
INTRODUCTION Vegetable oil is an important source of fatty acids , and as palm oil being the highest consumed vegetable oil in many countries , its high saturated fatty acid content has led many concerns on cardiometabolic health .
Dietary fatty acids has also been linked to affect glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity .
This systematic review is aim ed at critically evaluating the available evidence on the association of palm oil with the biomarkers of glucose metabolism as compared to other vegetable oils .
The Method Quality of Cross-Over Studies Involved in Cochrane Systematic Reviews
Background It is possible that cross-over studies included in current systematic review s are being inadequately assessed , because the current risk of bias tools do not consider possible biases specific to cross-over design . We performed this study to evaluate whether this was being done in  cross-over studies included in Cochrane  Systematic Review s ( CSRs ) . Methods We search ed the Cochrane Library ( up to 2013 issue 5 ) for CSRs that included at least one cross-over trial . Two authors independently undertook the study selection and data extraction . A r and om sample of the CSRs was selected and we evaluated whether the cross-over trials in these CSRs were assessed according to criteria suggested by the Cochrane h and book . In addition we reassessed the risk of bias of these cross-over trials by a checklist developed form the Cochrane h and book . Results We identified 688 CSRs that included one or more cross-over studies . We chose a r and om sample of 60 CSRs and these included 139 cross-over studies . None of these CSRs undertook a risk of bias assessment specific for cross-over studies . In fact items specific for cross-over studies were seldom considered anywhere in quality assessment of these CSRs . When we reassessed the risk of bias , including the 3 items specific to cross-over trials , of these 139 studies , a low risk of bias was judged for appropriate cross-over design in 110(79 % ) , carry-over effects in 48(34 % ) and for reporting data in all stages of the trial in 114(82 % ) . Assessment of biases in cross-over trials could affect the GRADE assessment of a review ’s findings . Conclusion The current Cochrane risk of bias tool is not adequate to assess cross-over studies . Items specific to cross-over trials leading to potential risk of bias are generally neglected in CSRs . A proposed check list for the evaluation of cross-over trials is provided
Current evidence on the effects of palm oil consumption on biomarkers of glucose metabolism is poor and limited to only healthy participants .
We conclude that little or no additional benefit will be obtained by replacing palm oil with other oils rich in mono or polyunsaturated fatty acids for changes in glucose metabolism
INTRODUCTION Vegetable oil is an important source of fatty acids , and as palm oil being the highest consumed vegetable oil in many countries , its high saturated fatty acid content has led many concerns on cardiometabolic health .
Dietary fatty acids has also been linked to affect glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity .
This systematic review is aim ed at critically evaluating the available evidence on the association of palm oil with the biomarkers of glucose metabolism as compared to other vegetable oils .