ABSTRACT
Background: Uncontrolled metabolic status of diabetes induces multiple complications, such as liver and renal dysfunctions. Saffron as an herbal medicine may improve diabetes metabolic control
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of saffron on metabolic control parameters, liver enzymes, and renal function parameters in type 2 diabetic patients
Methods: In this triple-blind clinical trial, 54 type 2 diabetic patients randomly consumed 15 mg saffron or placebo capsules twice a day for 8 weeks. The following measurements were made during the study: 1. Fasting and 2-hour blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglyceride, low and high density lipoproteins, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine amino transferase, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine; 2. Physical activity at the beginning and the end of the study; 3. dietary intakes at the beginning, midst, and end of the study; 4. anthropometric parameters every 2 weeks; 5. blood pressure every 2 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS. 18 software
Results: Fasting and 2-hour blood glucose, triglyceride, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen decreased [35.5, 38.5, 0.62, and 4.5 mg/dl, respectively], and high density lipoprotein increased, significantly in the saffron group [P<0.05]
Changes in lipid profile components other than triglycerides were not statistically significant in the two groups. Significant changes in blood pressure, dietary intakes, and physical activity were not seen in either group either [P>0.05]
Conclusion: Saffron hydro-alcoholic extract may improve type 2 diabetic patients' condition through helping control blood glucose and some of the lipid profiles components. It can also improve renal function, which may be related to its antioxidant properties
ABSTRACT
Impaired fasting glucose identifies individuals at high risk of progression to diabetes but the role of IFG as a coronary artery disease risk factor, independent of its progression to diabetes and its association with other coronary artery disease risk factors, is unclear. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that impaired fasting glucose increased the likelihood of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Blood chemistry data as well as traditional coronary artery disease risk factors from 812 patients referred for coronary angiography to heart centers in Shahid- Chamran and Sina hospital, Isfahan, Iran were recorded. The population were stratified into three groups according to American Diabetes Association criteria: normal fasting glucose [n=608], impaired fasting glucose[n=92] and diabetes mellitus[n=112].We use extent, Vessel and stenosis scores to indicate the coronary artery involvement. KrusKal-Wallis test showed that the means of extent, Vessel and stenosis scores are not significantly different between three groups[P> 0.05]. Multivariate linear regression analysis, using extent score of coronary artery disease as dependent variable and traditional risk factors and impaired fasting glucose as independent variables did not show any significant difference either. Our data suggested that impaired fasting glucose is not associated with increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis