title: Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Vaccinium arctostaphylos in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common disease. Preliminary data indicate that Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. (Caucasian whortleberry) has a potential effect in glycemic control. Thus, the efficacy and safety of a standardized whortleberry fruit hydroalcoholic extract in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial consisted of 37 patients aged 40-60 years with type 2 diabetes who were resistant to conventional oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs. The patients were treated with the whortleberry fruit hydroalcoholic extract (1 capsule = 350 mg, every 8 h for 2 months) in combination with anti-hyperglycemic drugs, and the effects on the blood levels of fasting glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and liver/kidney function were tested, evaluated, and compared with a placebo group (n = 37).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract significantly lowered the blood levels of fasting glucose, 2-h postprandial glucose, and HbA1c (p = 0.007, p <0.001, and p = 0.005, respectively) without any significant effects on the liver/kidney function (p >0.05) compared with placebo at the end. No adverse effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whortleberry may safely improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. skianbakht@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kianbakht
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abasi
authors.forename: Fataneh Hashem
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Dabaghian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human