The Effect of <i>Nigella sativa</i> Powder on Blood Sugar and Lipid Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that impairs plasma lipid levels and prone a person to cardiovascular diseases. Since standard therapies in diabetes control fail in many patients, using herbal medicines in these patients has been considered. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seed powder on blood sugar and fat profile in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited and randomly assigned into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received a capsule containing Nigella sativa seed powder for two months, and the control group received a placebo. Blood glucose and lipid profile data were statistically analyzed at the end of two months. This study was conducted in diabetic clinic of Khomein City during the 2019 - 2020 year. The groups were compared using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Results: The mean age of patients was 53.82 in the experimental group and 55.12 in the control group. In comparison between the two measurements before and after the interventions, the variables glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol (Chol), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001). The interactive effect between the control and intervention groups before and after the interventions was statistically significant for the postprandial glucose (PPG) variable (P = 0.035). Conclusions: The results of our study showed that the consumption of NS seed in diabetic patients could change the fat profile and reduce hemoglobin HbA1c, which indicated that Nigella sativa seed had been effective in reducing blood sugar over time.