[Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of nettle [Urtica Dioica] on glycemic index and insulin resistance index in type 2 diabetic patients]

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Nettle [Urtica dioica] on the glycemic and insulin resistance indices in type 2 diabetes patients

Materials and Methods: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 50 type 2 diabetes patients. after adjusting for age, sex and duration of diabetes, patients were randomly divided into two groups; Intervention group [25 patients] and the controls [25 patients] Patients, consumed 100 mg/kg hydro alcoholic extract of nettle or placebo [divided into 3 portions] daily, by dissolving the extract in a glass of water and taking it after their main meals. Fasting blood sugar [FBS], glycated haemoglobin [HbA1C], fasting Insulin concentration and insulin resistance index were measured at the beginning and end of the eighth week of the intervention. Student t test and paired sample t-test were used with SPSS software version 18.0 for statistical analyses, P<0.05 being considered significant

Results: FBS and HbA1C showed a significant decrease in the intervention group compared to controls at the end of the eighth week of study [P<0.05]. No significant changes however in fasting Insulin concentration, and Insulin resistance index were seen at the end of the study [P>0.05]

Conclusion: The hydro alcoholic extract of nettle reduced FBS and HbA1C after 8 weeks intervention in type 2 diabetic patients, and can hence be recommended as auxiliary therapy in these patients

Effect of hydro-alcoholic nettle extract on lipid profiles and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes patients

Improvements in lipid profiles and blood pressure are essential for preventing complications of diabetes. Considering the strong inclination people have to use herbal medicines, we aimed to investigate the effects of hydro alcoholic nettle extract on lipid profiles and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes patients. A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 50 type 2 diabetes patients, randomly divided into two groups the intervention [n=25] and control [n=25]. Subjects in the intervention group consumed 100 mg/kg of hydro alcoholic nettle extract daily, while those in the control group consumed 100 mg/kg of placebo daily for 8 weeks. Lipid profiles, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at baseline and at the end of 8th week of intervention. The intervention group showed a significant reduction in levels of triglycerides [TG], SBP and plasma atherogenic indexes [LDL-C / HDL-C and TC / HDL-C] [P<0.05], and a significant increase in level of High Density Lipoproteins [HDL-C] [P<0.05], at the end of 8th week of intervention, compared to control group. No significant changes however were observed in Total Cholesterol [TC], Low density lipoproteins [LDL-C], and DBP at the end of 8th week of intervention. Hydro alcoholic extract of nettle had positive effects on the lipid profiles and blood pressure status of type 2 diabetes patients, indicating its consumption can be recommended as auxiliary therapy in patients for type 2 diabetes