F Amin1, N Islam2, Nfn Anila3, A H Gilani4. 1. Natural Product Research Unit, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. Electronic address: faridah.amin@aku.edu. 2. Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. Electronic address: najmul.islam@aku.edu. 3. Department of Endocrinology, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY 11432, United States. Electronic address: dsanila01@yahoo.com. 4. Natural Product Research Unit, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan; College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, PO Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia(1). Electronic address: anwar.gilani@aku.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of Black seeds and Turmeric alone and its co-administration in lower doses among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). DESIGN: Double-blind-randomized-controlled trial. SETTING: Hijrat colony, Karachi, Pakistan. INTERVENTION: Apparently healthy males (n=250), who screened positive for MetS, were randomized to either Black seeds (1.5g/day), Turmeric (2.4g/day), its combination (900mg Black seeds and 1.5g Turmeric/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: body-mass-index (BMI), body-fat-percent (BF%), waist-circumference (WC), hip-circumference (HC), blood pressure (BP), lipid-profile (cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and c-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: At 4 weeks, compared to baseline, Black seed and Turmeric alone showed improvement in BMI, WC and BF%. Combination improved all parameters except HDL-cholesterol with lower FBG and LDL-cholesterol as compared to placebo. At 8 weeks, compared to placebo, Black seeds reduced lipids and FBG, while Turmeric reduced LDL-cholesterol and CRP. Interestingly, combination group with 60% dose of the individual herbs showed an improvement in all parameters from baseline. When compared to placebo, it reduced BF%, FBG, cholesterol, TG, LDL-cholesterol, CRP and raised HDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Turmeric and Black seeds showed improvement in all parameters of metabolic syndrome, when co-administered at 60% of doses of individual herbs with enhanced efficacy and negligible adverse-effects. The combination of Black seeds and Turmeric can therefore, be recommended with lifestyle modification as a starting point for patients with MetS to halt its future complications and progression.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of Black seeds and Turmeric alone and its co-administration in lower doses among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). DESIGN: Double-blind-randomized-controlled trial. SETTING: Hijrat colony, Karachi, Pakistan. INTERVENTION: Apparently healthy males (n=250), who screened positive for MetS, were randomized to either Black seeds (1.5g/day), Turmeric (2.4g/day), its combination (900mg Black seeds and 1.5g Turmeric/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: body-mass-index (BMI), body-fat-percent (BF%), waist-circumference (WC), hip-circumference (HC), blood pressure (BP), lipid-profile (cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and c-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: At 4 weeks, compared to baseline, Black seed and Turmeric alone showed improvement in BMI, WC and BF%. Combination improved all parameters except HDL-cholesterol with lower FBG and LDL-cholesterol as compared to placebo. At 8 weeks, compared to placebo, Black seeds reduced lipids and FBG, while Turmeric reduced LDL-cholesterol and CRP. Interestingly, combination group with 60% dose of the individual herbs showed an improvement in all parameters from baseline. When compared to placebo, it reduced BF%, FBG, cholesterol, TG, LDL-cholesterol, CRP and raised HDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSION:Turmeric and Black seeds showed improvement in all parameters of metabolic syndrome, when co-administered at 60% of doses of individual herbs with enhanced efficacy and negligible adverse-effects. The combination of Black seeds and Turmeric can therefore, be recommended with lifestyle modification as a starting point for patients with MetS to halt its future complications and progression.
Authors: Maria Pricci; Bruna Girardi; Floriana Giorgio; Giuseppe Losurdo; Enzo Ierardi; Alfredo Di Leo Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2020-03-29 Impact factor: 5.923