title: Effects of Cinnamon, Cardamom, Saffron, and Ginger Consumption on Markers of Glycemic Control, Lipid Profile, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Type 2 diabetes (T2D) may be caused by elevated oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperglycemia. The phytochemicals in several herbal medicines are reported to effectively improve diabetes and to ameliorate diabetic complications. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, and ginger as supplementary remedies in T2D.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled, clinical trial included 204 T2D patients. The participants were randomly assigned to four intervention groups receiving 3 glasses of black tea and either 3 g cardamom, or cinnamon, or ginger, or 1 g saffron and one control group which consumed only 3 tea glasses without any herbal medicine for 8 weeks. Markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and anthropometric measures were evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 weeks of intervention, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and saffron consumption had significant effects on total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels (p < 0.05) compared with controls. However, the herbal products did not have significant effects on measures of glycemic control, anthropometry, inflammation, and oxidative stress. In within-group comparisons only, cinnamon intake significantly decreased fasting blood sugar (FBS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The herbal remedies examined had significantly beneficial effects on cholesterol, but not on measures of glycemic control, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Based on the contradictory results reported in the literature, the effects of herbal medicine in diabetic patients should undergo further detailed investigation.
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Paria
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Azimi
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghiasvand
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Awat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feizi
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hariri
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnoud
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abbasi
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum; D027622:Crocus; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D028523:Elettaria; D005260:Female; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein