The effect of hydro alcoholic Nettle (Urtica dioica) extracts on insulin
sensitivity and some inflammatory indicators in patients with type 2 diabetes: a
randomized double-blind control trial.
Author(s): Namazi N, Esfanjani AT, Heshmati J, Bahrami A.
Affiliation(s): Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of
Medical Science, Iran.
Publication date & source: 2011, Pak J Biol Sci. , 14(15):775-9
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is strongly associated with
cardiovascular risk. Inflammation is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular
disease. In this study, hydro alcoholic extract of Nettle (Urtica dioica) on
insulin sensitivity and some inflammatory indicators in type 2 diabetic patients
were studied. A randomized double-blind clinical trial on 50 men and women with
type 2 diabetes was done for 8 weeks. Patients were adjusted by age, sex and
duration of diabetes, then randomly divided into two groups, an intervention and
control group. They received, 100 mg kg-1nettle extract or placebo in three
portions a day for 8 weeks. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
(TNF-alpha), High Sensitive C-Reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Fasting Insulin
concentration were measured. Insulin Sensitivity was calculated, at the beginning
and the end of the study. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 18, p<0.05 was
considered significant for all variables. After 8 weeks, IL-6 and hs-CRP showed a
significant decrease in the intervention group compared to the control group
(p<0.05). The findings showed that the hydro alcoholic extract of nettle has
decreasing effects on IL-6 and hs-CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes after
eight weeks intervention.
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