Artichoke dip: a cheese spread with an artichoke reputation

The cholesterol evidence for artichoke is real, and it comes from extract supplements. A meta-analysis of 9 trials with 702 people found that artichoke extract lowered LDL cholesterol by 14.9 mg/dL (95% CI 9.5 to 20.4 lower), and the abstract gives no dose. A second meta-analysis of artichoke supplementation trials in adults found systolic blood pressure fell by 2.49 mmHg, with one end of its interval at 0.65 mmHg, close to zero. Neither tested a dip. The dip itself is mostly fat. A generic US recipe has 331 calories and 32.7 g fat per 3.5 oz (100 g), 8.5 g of it saturated, with 0.9 g fiber and 3.9 g protein. A 15 g tablespoon carries about 50 calories and 91 mg sodium, and a 70 g individual container about 232 calories and 425 mg sodium. These are recipe calculations, and dips built on mayonnaise, cream cheese or parmesan differ widely.

Every statement here is tied to a source. The badge says what kind of evidence stands behind it: A is a meta-analysis or systematic review, E is the position of an expert body without its own analysis. How we verify →

As people eat it, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

As eaten	kcal	Protein	Fat	Carbs	Fiber
Artichoke dip	331	3.86 g	32.7 g	5.78 g	0.9 g

USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS, release 2024-10-31): artichoke dip as it is prepared and served, from the recipes behind the national dietary survey, rather than a single laboratory sample.

How much is actually in it

Fat supplies most of the energy in artichoke dip: 32.7 g total fat and 8.5 g saturated fat per 3.5 oz (100 g), with 3.9 g protein and 0.9 g fiber. — Generic US artichoke dip recipe Evidence E source
Fat 32.67 g, saturated 8.459 g, protein 3.86 g, fiber 0.9 g per 3.5 oz (100 g)
Adding spinach barely changes the profile: spinach and artichoke dip has 329 calories, 620 mg sodium and 1.2 g fiber per 3.5 oz (100 g). — Generic US spinach and artichoke dip recipe Evidence E source
329 calories, 620 mg sodium, 32.76 g fat, 1.2 g fiber, 120 mg calcium per 3.5 oz (100 g)

What a real portion looks like

Artichoke dip provides 331 calories per 3.5 oz (100 g), so one tablespoon (15 g) carries about 50 calories and a 70 g individual container about 232 calories. — Generic US artichoke dip recipe Evidence E source
331 calories/100 g; 49.6 calories per 15 g; 231.7 calories per 70 g
Artichoke dip contains 607 mg sodium per 3.5 oz (100 g), about 91 mg per tablespoon and 425 mg per 70 g container. — Generic US artichoke dip recipe Evidence E source
607 mg/100 g; 91 mg per 15 g; 424.9 mg per 70 g

What it does to your health

A meta-analysis of 9 trials with 702 people found artichoke extract supplements lowered LDL cholesterol by about 15 mg/dL, evidence about concentrated extracts rather than a creamy dip. — 702 subjects in 9 RCTs of artichoke extract (n = 702) Evidence A source
LDL-C WMD -14.9 mg/dL (95% CI -20.4 to -9.5); total cholesterol -17.6 mg/dL; HDL-C no change
A 2025 meta-analysis of artichoke supplementation trials in adults found modest drops in systolic (2.5 mmHg) and diastolic (1.5 mmHg) blood pressure. — Adults in RCTs of artichoke supplementation, searched to September 2024 Evidence A source
SBP WMD -2.49 mmHg (95% CI -4.33 to -0.65); DBP WMD -1.53 mmHg (95% CI -3.01 to -0.05)

Safety, limits and interactions

FDA testing of 747 refrigerated ready-to-eat dips and spreads in 2021 to 2022 found Listeria monocytogenes in three dip and cheese spread samples. — 747 refrigerated multi-commodity RTE dips and spreads sampled in the US (n = 747) Evidence E source
3 of 747 samples positive for Listeria monocytogenes; 1 hummus sample positive for Salmonella
Artichoke ingestion has caused acute tongue swelling in a published case, within a report of tongue edema causing life-threatening airway obstruction. — Case report patients with acute tongue edema Evidence D source
One case of acute tongue enlargement after eating artichoke

What people believe that the data does not support

The EU refused to authorize the claim that globe artichoke enhances renal elimination of water or drains the body, and no artichoke health claim is authorized in the EU register. — EU health claim assessment Evidence E source
Status: Non-authorized

Who this works differently for

In a meta-analysis of artichoke supplement trials, a subgroup analysis suggested that in people with hypertension systolic pressure fell by about 3 mmHg. — Participants of 8 RCTs; subgroup with hypertension Evidence A source
Hypertensive subgroup SBP WMD -3.19 mmHg (95% CI -3.32 to -3.06)
Allergy to eaten globe artichoke was first described in 2000, in a report of patients with rhinitis and asthma who tested positive to artichoke, grapes, lupine seeds and black mulberry. — Four patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma (n = 4) Evidence D source
Artichoke among the positive foods; first described ingestion allergy to artichoke

The bottom line

Adding spinach changes little. Spinach and artichoke dip comes to 329 calories, 620 mg sodium and 1.2 g fiber per 3.5 oz (100 g), again a recipe figure. Eat it as a rich spread and count it in spoons. Blood pressure results depend on who took the supplement. In a meta-analysis of artichoke trials, people with hypertension saw systolic pressure fall by 3.19 mmHg (95% CI 3.06 to 3.32). That is a subgroup, and an interval this narrow is unusual enough to treat with suspicion. The EU has authorized no artichoke health claim and refused the old one that artichoke helps the body eliminate water or drain itself. A refusal means the evidence fell short of the bar. Two cautions apply. FDA tested 747 refrigerated ready-to-eat dips and spreads in 2021 and 2022 and found Listeria monocytogenes in three dip and cheese spread samples, none reported as artichoke dip specifically. Listeria matters most for pregnant women, older people and anyone with weakened immunity. Allergy to eaten artichoke exists. It was first described in a small case series of patients with rhinitis and asthma, and one published case describes acute tongue swelling after eating artichoke. No frequency is known.

Related foods

Sources

ardp-daily-r4-03 · food composition dataset
FNDDS 2705782 Artichoke dip: Total lipid (fat) 32.67 g/100 g · Fatty acids, total saturated 8.459 g/100 g · Protein 3.86 g/100 g · Fiber, total dietary 0.9 g/100 g
USDA FNDDS 2021-2023, food code 14620110 Artichoke dip (FDC 2705782) · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-04 · food composition dataset
FNDDS 2705783 Spinach and artichoke dip: Energy 329 kcal/100 g · Sodium 620 mg/100 g · Total lipid (fat) 32.76 g/100 g · Fiber, total dietary 1.2 g/100 g · Calcium 120 mg/100 g
USDA FNDDS 2021-2023, food code 14620115 Spinach and artichoke dip (FDC 2705783) · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-01 · food composition dataset
FNDDS 2705782 Artichoke dip: Energy 331 kcal/100 g, 1 tablespoon 15 g 49.6 kcal, 1 individual container 70 g 231.7 kcal
USDA FNDDS 2021-2023, food code 14620110 Artichoke dip (FDC 2705782) · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-02 · food composition dataset
FNDDS 2705782 Artichoke dip: Sodium 607 mg/100 g, 1 tablespoon 15 g 91.0 mg, 1 individual container 70 g 424.9 mg
USDA FNDDS 2021-2023, food code 14620110 Artichoke dip (FDC 2705782) · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-05 · meta-analysis of RCTs
Meta-analysis of data from 9 trials including 702 subjects suggested a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (WMD: -17.6 mg/dL, 95%CI: -22.0, -13.3, p < 0.001), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C; WMD: -14.9 mg/dL, 95%CI: -20.4, -9.5, p = 0.011)
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2018 · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-06 · meta-analysis of RCTs
Blood pressure outcomes revealed significant reductions in both systolic (WMD = -2.49 mmHg, 95 % CI: 4.33 to -0.65) and diastolic (WMD = -1.53 mmHg, 95 % CI: 3.01 to -0.05) pressures.
Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2025 · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-09 · FDA sampling assignment
From March 2021 to January 2022, the FDA collected and tested a total of 747 samples of refrigerated, multi-commodity RTE dips and spreads that contain ingredients such as sesame, vegetables, cheese, and seafood. The agency detected Salmonella spp. in one sample of hummus and Listeria monocytogenes in three dip and cheese spread samples.
US FDA, Ready-to-Eat Dips and Spreads Sampling Assignment summary, 2023 · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-11 · case series
Among these, we present the first case of acute enlargement of the tongue due to the ingestion of artichoke.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 2003 · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-08 · EU claim register entry
POL-HC-7003 Cynara scolymus - common name : artichoke, globe artichoke Used to enhance the renal elimination of water / "Used to facilitate the elimination functions of the organism" / "Used for the drainage of the organism" / "Stimulates the elimination function of the organism" / "Contributes to the functionary of the urinary tract" Non-authorised
EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7003, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-07 · meta-analysis of RCTs
subgroup analyses based on health status suggested that artichoke administration among hypertensive patients may significantly reduce SBP (WMD: -3.19 mmHg, 95 % CI: -3.32 to -3.06)
Complement Ther Med, 2021 · checked 2026-10-01
ardp-daily-r4-10 · case series
Grapes, lupine seeds, black mulberry and artichoke resulted positive in the patients under study. This is the first time allergy to ingested artichoke has been described.
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol, 2000 · checked 2026-10-01

Review. Reviewed on 2026-10-01 for evidence level, dose and population context, and claims a reader could misread. Bioma Learn has no human medical reviewer at this time, and we say so rather than invent one. Methodology. This is information, not medical advice.