title: Favorable impact of Nigella sativa seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The atherogenic pattern of dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasingly discussed. We have recently reported a hypoglycemic effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seeds in patients with type 2 DM. In this study we sought to assess the impact of NS seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 94 patients with type 2 DM were recruited and divided into 3 dose groups. Capsules containing NS were administered orally in a dose of 1, 2, and 3 g/day for 12 weeks. All patients were subjected to measurement of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) before treatment and 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients receiving 1 g/day NS seeds for 12 weeks (group 1) showed nonsignificant changes in all the parameters except for a significant increase in HDL-c after 4 weeks of treatment. However, patients ingested 2 g/day NS displayed a significant decline in TC, TG, and LDL-c, and a significant elevation in HDL-c/LDL-c, compared with their baseline data and to group 1 patients. Increasing NS dose to 3 g/day failed to show any increase in the hypolipdemic effect produced by the 2 g/day dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NS supplementation at a dose of 2 g/day for 12 weeks may improve the dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, NS is a potential protective natural agent against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaatabi
authors.forename: Abdullah O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Bamosa
authors.forename: Fatma M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lebda
authors.forename: Abdulmohsen H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al Elq
authors.forename: Ali I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Al-Sultan