The effect of ginger powder supplementation on insulin resistance and glycemic indices in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of some herbal products on insulin resistance. Regarding the scientific evidences existing about ginger, this research was therefore carried out to identify the effect of ginger supplementation on insulin resistance and glycemic indices in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 88 participants affected by diabetes were randomly assigned into ginger (GG) and placebo (PG) groups. The GG received 3 one-gram capsules containing ginger powder whereas the PG received 3 one-gram microcrystalline-containing capsules daily for 8 weeks. HbA1c, fructosamine, fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), ß-cell function (ß%), insulin sensitivity (S%) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: FBS mean showed a decrease of 10.5% (p=0.003) in the GG whereas the mean had an increase of 21% in the PG (p=0.01). Variation in HbA1c mean was in line with that of FBS. Statistical difference was found in the two groups before and after the intervention in terms of median of fasting insulin level, S% and HOMA-IR (P<0.005). Moreover QUICKI mean increased significantly in the two groups, the mean difference, however, was significantly higher in the GG. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that daily consumption of 3 one-gram capsules of ginger powder for 8 weeks is useful for patients with type 2 diabetes due to FBS and HbA1c reduction and improvement of insulin resistance indices such as QUICKI index.

In-vitro study of homocysteine and aspirin effects on fibrinolysis: measuring fibrinolysis parameters.

Some studies suggest that increased homocysteine in blood leads to alterations in coagulation and fibrinolysis; however, the precise mechanism is not clear. The aim of this study was to compare different concentrations of homocysteine and aspirin on fibrinolysis in the plasma of healthy individuals in vitro. Different concentrations of homocysteine (200, 100, and 50 µmol/l) and aspirin (100, 10, and 1 mg/l) were added to the healthy people plasma citrate. They were incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Then, fibrinolysis parameters were analyzed by the turbidimetric procedure at 405 nm. The independent-samples t-test was utilized to compare them (P < 0.05). Findings revealed that homocysteine at 200 µmol/l with aspirin 100 ml/g had significant changes in the lysis maximum velocity (0.150 ±â€Š0.002), half-lysis time (218 ±â€Š5.77), the total lysis time (446 ±â€Š5.77), and lag time in lysis (119 ±â€Š3.60), compared to homocysteine at 200 µmol/l lysis maximum velocity (0.110 ±â€Š0.002), half-lysis time (278 ±â€Š7.63), the total lysis time (515 ±â€Š14.29), and lag time in lysis (176 ±â€Š3.60), respectively (P < 0.05). Homocysteine at 200 µmol/l with aspirin 1 ml/g did not significantly change in either parameter (P > 0.05). Homocysteine at 50 µmol/l with aspirin (100, 10, and 1 mg/l) had significant changes in all fibrinolysis parameters (P < 0.05), compared to homocysteine at 50 µmol/l. The other concentrations were compared in the same way. Aspirin (more than 1 mg/l) had more effect on higher concentrations of homocysteine. Aspirin increased velocity of clot lysis and decreased lysis time of clot in the presence of homocysteine.

Effects of dietary zinc supplement during lactation on longitudinal changes in plasma and milk zinc concentration.

Effects of dietary zinc supplement during lactation on maternal zinc plasma and milk zinc concentration through 5 months of lactation were examined. One hundred and thirty eight healthy lactating mothers received a weekly 100 mg elemental zinc supplement (ZS, n = 67) or placebo (PG, n = 71) starting one week postpartum in a double blind, randomized design. Milk and plasma zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. During the course of study, there was not a significantly difference between ZG and PG groups in dietary zinc and energy intake. The mean plasma zinc concentration at 1st week and 5th month were 134 +/- 49.1 and 115.6 +/- 23 microg dL(-1) (PV = 0.005) for PG group, respectively; that of the ZG group these figures were 124.9 +/- 52.8 and 121 +/- 27.1 microg dL(-1) (PV = 0.38), respectively. The mean serum alkaline phosphatase concentration at 1st week and 5th month were 94.8 +/- 37 and 92.6 +/- 29.9 iu L(-1) for PG group, respectively; that of the ZG group these fissures were 90.5 +/- 36 and 90 +/- 29 iu L(-1) (PV = 0.21), respectively. Milk zinc concentration declined significantly over the course of study for two groups, with the sharpest decline occurring during the first 2 months. The mean monthly zinc concentration of ZG group declined from 310 +/- 138 at 1st week to 118 +/- 64 microg dL(-1) at 5th month (declined by 52%). Corresponding means for PG group were 322 +/- 161 and 109 +/- 70 microg dL(-1) (declined by 60%), respectively. Milk zinc concentration significantly different between two groups at 3 and 4 months. A similar study, however, with different zinc dose and administration manner, in zinc marginal deficient lactating mothers is needed to assess the impact of zinc supplementation on milk zinc concentrations.