title: Effect of folic acid supplementation on biochemical indices in overweight and obese men with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study performed to determine the effects of folate supplementation on indices of glycemic control, insulin resistance and lipid profile in overweight and obese men with type 2 diabetes under metformin (at least 1500 mg daily) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Forty-eight overweight and obese men (aged 58.2±8.9 years; BMI=28.6±2.9 kg/m(2)) with type 2 diabetes participated in the study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups of folic acid (5 mg/d) and placebo. All patients received the tablets for eight weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation with folic acid led to 8% decrease in HbA1C (p=0.048), 7.5% in fasting blood glucose (p=0.051), 16.2% in serum insulin (p=0.021), 20.5% in insulin resistance (p=0.041) and 21.2% in plasma homocysteine (p=0.000). A significant increase in serum folate and B12 levels (19% and 17.3%, p=0.000, respectively) were observed in the folic acid group, whereas no significant changes occurred in the placebo group. Also, in the folic acid and placebo groups, there were no significant changes in body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Folic acid supplementation lowered plasma level of homocysteine, improved glycemic control and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Research Center, Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Faculty of Health & Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. bahrampg@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bahram Pourghassem
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gargari
authors.forename: Vahide
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aghamohammadi
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aliasgharzadeh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005492:Folic Acid; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin