Efficacy and safety of Gymnema inodorum tea consumption in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Background : Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global epidemic and its prevalence increases in many region of the world. Gymnema inodorum is a medicinal plant that has been used as drug and food for a long time in Thailand. It has hypoglycemic effect in healthy subjects without serious side effects. However, today there has not been any clinical study evaluating its effect in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective : To evaluate the effect of consumption of G. inodorum tea on clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients.

Design : Before and after quasi-experimental study.

Setting : Diabetes Clinic, Outpatient Department, Lerdsin Hospital, Bangkok.

Materials and Methods : Type 2 diabetic patients voluntarily participated in the study which comprised of 2 consecutive phases. In the controlled phase, the patients received only prescribed drugs (week 0 – week 8) and later in the treatment phase, G. inodorum tea was supplemented (week 8 – week 16). The biochemical parameters, and nutrients and caloric intakes were evaluated at week 0, 8, and 16.

Results : The biochemical parameters including fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A_1C (HbA_1C), total cholesterol (Total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and serum creatinine (SCr) did not significantly change throughout the study. So did the nutrient and caloric intakes.

Conclusion : G. inodorum tea had no effect on blood sugar and lipid profiles in this study. It also did not affect hepatic and renal functions.