Khara Lucius, ND

Category: Diabetes

  • Meta-Analysis of Boswellia for people with T2DM

    Meta-Analysis of Boswellia for people with T2DM

    Boswellia serrata (frankincense) extracts, in particular those with boswellic acids, have anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects. In this small meta-analysis, 5 studies with 287 total participants with type 2 daibetes mellitus (T2DM) were included.

    Compared to placebo or controls, use of Boswellia resulted in significant reductions in:

    • HbA1C (SMD: -1.01; 95%CI: -1.55 to -0.46; P=0.00)
    • Total cholesterol (SMD: -0.44; 95%CI: -0.68 to -0.21; P=0.00)
    • Triglycerides (TG) (SMD: -0.42; 95%CI: -0.66 to -0.19; P=0.00)
    • LDL levels (SMD: -0.43; 95%CI: -0.73 to -0.12; P=0.006)

    HDL levels were unaffected by Boswellia treatment (SMD: 0.56, 95%CI: -0.14 to -1.26; P=0.118), and while use of Boswellia did result in a reduction in FBS, this finding was non-significant (SMD: -1.34, 95%CI: -2.68 to 0.00; P=0.05).

    All 5 of the included clinical trials were conducted in Iran. Doses of Boswellia in the included trials ranged from 500mg to 1200mg daily, for durations of 6 to 12 weeks. Mean participant age was 55, and mean participant BMI was 27.01.

    Citation:

    Karimi M, Vakili K, Rashidian P, Razavi-Amoli SK, Akhbari M, Kazemi K. Effect of boswellia (Boswellia serrata L.) supplementation on glycemic markers and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2024 Oct 10;5:1466408.

    Link:

    Full text on Pub Med

  • Melatonin supplementation reduces markers of inflammation

    Melatonin supplementation reduces markers of inflammation

    This was a meta-analysis of RCTs examining the effect of melatonin supplementation on markers of inflammation. Thirteen trials (of 4 weeks duration or longer, comparing melatonin to placebo) were included, with a total of 749 participants. Doses of melatonin used in these trials ranged from 3 to 25mg daily. Trials were conducted in people with a variety of conditions, including T2DM, cancer, obesity, NAFLD, or autoimmune disease.

    Melatonin led to decreases in levels of IL6 (p<0.001) and TNF-α (p<0.001), with effects on these markers being more pronounced when melatonin was supplemented for ≥12 weeks and at doses of ≥10 mg/day. Melatonin had a marginal effect on CRP (p=0.06). The authors discuss melatonin’s antioxidant properties as well as effects on the microbiome, and speculate that these factors may contribute to melatonin’s anti-inflammatory effects.

    Citation:

    Zarezadeh, M., Khorshidi, M., Emami, M. et al. Melatonin supplementation and pro-inflammatory mediators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials Eur J Nutr  2019 Nov 2

    Link:

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02123-0

  • Melatonin for diabetics receiving dialysis

    Melatonin leads to improvement in markers of glycemic control, cardiometabolic risk, and oxidative stress in diabetic people receiving dialysis

    This was a small (N=60) randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial in adults with diabetes. Participants were randomized to receive either Melatonin 10mg QHS, or a placebo, for 12 weeks. A total of 53 people completed the study (26 in the melatonin group and 27 in the placebo group).

    At the completion of the 12 week trial, people who received melatonin experienced the following statistically significant changes:

    • Decreased FBS (P < .001)
    • Decreased serum insulin levels (P = .01)
    • Decreased hsCRP (P = .001)
    • Increased plasma total antioxidant capacity (P <.001)
    • Downregulated expression of IL-8 and TNFα, and reduced expression of PPAR-γ (P = .03, P= .008, and P = .03 respectively)

    Melatonin was not found to significantly impact GSH or lipid levels in this trial. Melatonin supplementation was found to be well-tolerated, with no adverse events reported. Participants in the melatonin group also experienced significantly improved sleep function as measured by PSQI (P= .007).

    Citation:

    Ostadmohammadi V et al. The Effects of Melatonin Supplementation on Parameters of Mental Health, Glycemic Control, Markers of Cardiometabolic Risk, and Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Renal Nutrition 2019 Oct 6. pii: S1051-2276(19)30313-9

    Link:

    https://www.jrnjournal.org/article/S1051-2276(19)30313-9/abstract