Replacing White Sugar with Brown Sugar in the Diet of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Reduces HbA1c and Inflammatory Cytokines
| Author | Mehdi Sheikhi | en |
| Author | Majid Mirzapour | en |
| Author | Mehdi Matinrad | en |
| Author | Ali Rahimikhah | en |
| Author | Narges Baharifar | en |
| Author | Forough Chamaie Nejad | en |
| Author | Paria Torkamani | en |
| Author | Nahal Badavi | en |
| Author | Parinaz Nadaki | en |
| Author | Hamid Karimi | en |
| Author | Seyedeh Maryam Alavi | en |
| Author | Ali Sadeghi Moghaddam | en |
| Author | Abdolkarim Sheikhi | en |
| Orcid | Hamid Karimi [0000-0001-5527-4082] | en |
| Orcid | Abdolkarim Sheikhi [0000-0002-3559-5548] | en |
| Issued Date | 2025-12-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Nutritional interventions have gained increasing prominence in the prevention, treatment, and long-term management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Strong evidence supports the high efficacy and cost-effectiveness of nutritional therapy in treating T2DM. Given public interest in daily sugar intake, substituting white sugar with brown sugar, which contains nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, may play an important role in dietary management. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of brown sugar consumption on inflammatory cytokines, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels in patients with T2DM. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted at Dr. Ganjavian Hospital in Dezful, Iran. A total of 66 patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to three groups: Dark brown sugar (DBS), light brown sugar (LBS), and white sugar (placebo, WS). Participants consumed 15 g/day of the designated product for 3 months, replacing their recommended dietary allowance of polysaccharides, under a nutritionist’s supervision. Blood samples were collected on day 0 and after 3 months to measure serum FBS, HbA1c, inflammatory cytokines (including interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Results: The data showed that consumption of DBS and LBS reduced FBS (DBS, P = 0.001; LBS, P = 0.069; WS, P = 0.222) and HbA1c (DBS, P = 0.014; LBS, P = 0.003; WS, P = 0.326) levels compared with white sugar. In addition, both the DBS and LBS groups showed reductions in IL-6 (DBS, P = 0.000; LBS, P = 0.011; WS, P = 0.206), TNF-α (DBS, P = 0.003; LBS, P = 0.002; WS, P = 0.143), and hs-CRP (DBS, P = 0.022; LBS, P = 0.016; WS, P = 0.482) compared with the placebo group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that replacing white sugar with brown sugar may have beneficial effects on glycemic control and inflammation in patients with T2DM and may represent a healthier alternative to refined white sugar for diabetes management. The anti-inflammatory properties of brown sugar may be related to its rich phytochemical, mineral, and fiber contents. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.69107/jai-172106 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jai/articles/172106 | en |
| Keyword | Brown Sugar | en |
| Keyword | Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus | en |
| Keyword | Inflammatory Cytokines | en |
| Keyword | HbA1c | en |
| Keyword | Fasting Blood Sugar | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Replacing White Sugar with Brown Sugar in the Diet of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Reduces HbA1c and Inflammatory Cytokines | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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