Momordica charantia for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Momordica charantia is not only a nutritious vegetable, but is also used in traditional medical practices to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Experimental studies with animals and humans suggested that the vegetable has a possible role in glycaemic control.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of mormodica charantia for type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Several electronic databases were searched, among these The Cochrane Library (issue 4, 2009), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SIGLE and LILACS (all up to November 2009), combined with handsearches. No language restriction was used.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials that compared momordica charantia with a placebo or a control intervention with or without pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions were included.


METHODS
Two authors independently extracted the data. Risk of bias of trials was evaluated using the parameters of randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, completeness of outcome data, selective reporting and other potential sources of bias. A meta-analysis was not performed given the quality of data and the variability of preparations of momordica charantia used in interventions (no similar preparation was tested twice).


RESULTS
Three randomised controlled trials with up to three months duration and investigating 350 participants met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias of these trials (only one study was published as a full peer-reviewed publication) was generally high. Two RCTs compared the effect of preparations from different parts of the momordica charantia plants and placebo on the glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. There was no statistically significant difference compared to placebo. The effects of preparation from the leaves of the plant and glibenclamide were comparable in the third trial. No serious adverse effects were reported in all the trials. There were no documentations of death from any cause, morbidity, (health-related) quality of life and costs.


CONCLUSIONS
There is insufficient evidence to recommend momordica charantia for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further studies are therefore required to address the issues of standardization and the quality control of preparations. For medical nutritional therapy, further observational trials evaluating the effects of momordica charantia are needed before RCTs are established to guide any recommendations in clinical practice.
Ooi
Cheow Peng
CP
Institute of Gerontology, University Putra Malaysia, 3rd floor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, 43400.
Yassin
Zaitun
Z
Hamid
Tengku-Aizan
TA
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029777:Momordica charantia; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D005905:Glyburide; D012256:Riboflavin