ABSTRACT
Background: previous clinical and experimental studies suggest the valuable effect of antioxidants on lipids status. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of silymarin treatment as an antioxidants on lipids profile in type II diabetic hyperlipidemic patients
Methods: a 4-month randomized double blind clinical trial was conducted in 54 non-insulin dependent diabetic hyperlipidemic patients in a two well - matched groups. First group [n=29] received 200mg silymarin tablet 3 times a day plus standard therapy, while the control group [n=25] received placebo tablet 3 times a day plus standard therapy. The patients were visited monthly and fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, SGOT and SGPT were determined at the beginning and at the end of the study after four months
Results: results revealed that in silymarin treated patients, fasting blood glucose, LDL and total cholesterol, triglycerid, SGOT, SGPT and glucose level at the end of the study were significantly decreased as compared to beginning of the study. In placebo treated patients fasting blood glucose level at the end of the study were significantly increased as compared to beginning of the study
Conclusion: in conclusion, the silymarin as an herbal antioxidant have beneficial effects on reducing glucose and lipids profile in type II diabetic patients