Controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus with herbal medicines: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety

Background The use of alternative medicines is common in patients with diabetes mellitus. The primary aim of the present study was to determine the effects of cinnamon and Caucasian whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) on blood glucose control, lipid profile and body mass index (BMI) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods In all, 105 T2DM patients were recruited to the present randomized triple‐blinded clinical trial. Patients were randomly divided into three groups and administered either placebo, cinnamon or whortleberry supplements (1 g/day) for 90 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, lipid profiles, and HbA1c were measured before and after the study. Results There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups. After treatment, FBG, 2‐h blood postprandial glucose and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) scores were significantly reduced in patients in the whortleberry group, but not in the placebo group. After treatment, there was a significant difference in BMI between the cinnamon and control groups (P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in any variables between the cinnamon and whortleberry groups (P>0.05 for all). In addition, there was a significant decrease in all indices of glucose control in all the cinnamon and whortleberry groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions There were no significant differences in blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity or lipid profile among the three groups. However, the use of cinnamon and whortleberry in addition to conventional medical treatment is recommended to adjust weight and blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM, respectively. 摘要 背景: 在糖尿病患者中使用替代药物进行治疗非常普遍。当前这项研究的主要目的是在2型糖尿病患者中测定肉桂与高加索越橘(越橘熊果属)对血糖控制、血脂谱以及体重指数的影响。 方法: 当前这项随机三盲临床试验总共招募了105名2型糖尿病患者。患者被随机分配到3组中,分别使用安慰剂、肉桂或者越橘添加剂(1 g/日)治疗90天。在研究开始前以及结束后都要测定空腹血糖(FBG)、血清胰岛素、血脂谱以及HbA1c。 结果: 3组之间的基线特征没有显著的差异。经过治疗之后,越橘治疗组患者的FBG、2小时餐后血糖以及使用稳态模型评估的胰岛素抵抗评分均显著下降,但是安慰剂组患者却没有下降。经过治疗之后,肉桂治疗组与对照组之间的体重指数具有显著性差异(P = 0.02)。肉桂治疗组与越橘治疗组之间的任何变量都没有显著性差异(所有P值均> 0.05)。另外,在所有的肉桂治疗组与越橘治疗组中所有的血糖控制指标均显著下降(P < 0.05)。 结论: 3组患者间的血糖水平、胰岛素敏感性以及血脂谱都没有显著的差异。然而,为了更好地调节2型糖尿病患者的体重以及控制他们的血糖水平,除了常规的药物治疗之外推荐分别加用肉桂与越橘进行治疗。