Effect of Nigella sativa seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases. Effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a placebo controlled study. Prevention of type 2 diabetes - where is the evidence? Clinical evaluation of Nigella sativa seeds for the treatment of hyperlipidemia: a randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. Dairy Products and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: Implications for Research and Practice Type 2 Diabetes: Demystifying the Global Epidemic Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation over a one-year period on lipid levels, blood pressure and heart rate in type-2 diabetic patients receiving oral hypoglycemic agents: nonrandomized clinical trial
UNLABELLED Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease affecting millions of people world wide . St and ard treatment is failing to achieve required correction of blood glucose in many patients . Therefore , there is a need for investigating potential hypoglycemic drugs or herbs to improve glycemic control in diabetic patients .  Nigella sativa seeds were used as an adjuvant therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 added to their anti-diabetic medications . A total of 94 patient were recruited and divided r and omly into three dose groups . Capsules containing Nigella sativa were administered orally in a dose of 1 , 2 and 3 gm/day for three months . The effect of Nigella sativa on the glycemic control was assessed through measurement of fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) , blood glucose level 2 hours postpr and ially ( 2 hPG ) , and glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) . Serum C-peptide and changes in body weight were also measured . Insulin resistance and beta-cell function were calculated usin the homeostatic model assessment ( HOMA2 ) . Nigella sativa at a dose of 2 gm/day caused significant reductions in FBG , 2hPG , and HbA1 without significant change in body weight . Fasting blood glucose was reduced by an average of 45 , 62 and 56 mg/dl at 4 , 8 and 12 weeks respectively . HbAlC was reduced by 1.52 % at the end of the 12 weeks of treatment ( P<0.0001 ) . Insulin resistance calculated by HOMA2 was reduced significantly ( P<0.01 ) , while B-cell function was increased ( P<0.02 ) at 12 weeks of treatment . The use of Nigella sativa in a dose of 1 gm/day also showed trends in improvement in all the measured parameters but it was not statistically significant from the baseline . However , no further increment in the beneficial response was observed with the 3 gm/day dose . The three doses of Nigella sativa used in the study did not adversely affect either renal functions or hepatic functions of the diabetic patients throughout the study period . IN CONCLUSION the results of this study indicate that a dose of 2 gm/ day of Nigella sativa might be a beneficial adjuvant to oral hypoglycemic agents in type 2 diabetic patients Nigella sativa ( black seed ) is an important medicinal herb . In many Arabian , Asian and African countries , black seed oil is used as a natural remedy for a wide range of diseases , including various allergies . The plant 's mechanism of action is still largely unknown . Due to the lack of study data on its efficacy in allergies , four studies on the clinical efficacy of Nigella sativa in allergic diseases are presented . In these studies , a total of 152 patients with allergic diseases ( allergic rhinitis , bronchial asthma , atopic eczema ) were treated with Nigella sativa oil , given in capsules at a dose of 40 to 80 mg/kg/day . The patients scored the subjective severity of target symptoms using a predefined scale . The following laboratory parameters were investigated : IgE , eosinophil count , endogenous cortisol in plasma and urine , ACTH , triglycerides , total cholesterol , LDL and HDL cholesterol and lymphocyte sub population s. The score of subjective feeling decreased over the course of treatment with black seed oil in all four studies . A slight decrease in plasma triglycerides and a discrete increase in HDL cholesterol occurred while the lymphocyte sub population s , endogenous cortisol levels and ACTH release remained unchanged . Black seed oil therefore proved to be an effective adjuvant for the treatment of allergic diseases The constituents of Nigella sativa modulate the immune system . The aim of the present work was to study the effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in RA patients . Data from 40 female RA patients diagnosed according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR were analysed and discussed . The patients took two placebo ( starch filled ) capsules daily for 1 month . This was followed by a month of Nigella sativa oil capsules 500 mg twice/day . The disease activity score ( DAS-28 ) significantly decreased after receiving the Nigella sativa capsules ( 4.55 ± 0.82 ) compared with before and after placebo ( 4.98 ± 0.79 and 4.99 ± 0.72 , respectively ) ( p = 0.017 ) . Similarly , the number of swollen joints and the duration of morning stiffness improved . A marked improvement in the disease activity was shown by both the ACR20 and EULAR response criteria in 42.5 % and 30 % of the patients , respectively , after intake of Nigella . Supplementation with Nigella sativa during DMARD therapy in RA may be considered an affordable potential adjuvant biological therapy Diabetes is an “ old disease ” . The first description of diabetes written on papyrus about 3500 years ago is found in the Ebers papyrus  , which was discovered in Egypt in 1873 by the German archeologist Georg Ebers . Humans , like most mammals , may develop diabetes , if sufficient environmental exposure to physical inactivity , unhealthy diet and obesity are present . Genetic effects are important for the individual risk of type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) but twin studies have shown that the genetic effects combined explain less than 50 % of the risk of T2D ( 1 ) . Today we know almost 100 susceptibility genes associated with T2D but the relative importance of each of these genes is low ( 2 ) , and together they explain only a small part of the disease risk . Thus , genetic screening can not be used for the prediction of T2D for individuals . On the other h and , healthy lifestyle can also prevent T2D in people who are genetically at high risk , e.g. those with positive family history ( 3 ) . Thus , the importance of lifestyle factors for the development and prevention of T2D is overwhelming . The strongest evidence in medicine is considered to come from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) . They are also important in providing the link to causal inference that in most observational studies can not be derived . At the same time , observational studies are necessary for the identification of factors associated with an increased or decreased risk of a disease , and for generation of hypotheses on potential means for prevention based on modifiable risk factors . Observational studies have by now identified a large number of factors that are associated with the development of T2D or with the protection against it . Most of them are related to physical activity , diet and obesity . It has also been shown unequivocally that exposures ( poor nutrition , infections , smoking , etc . ) during fetal life and early infancy result ing in insufficient development ( often shown as low birth weight ) also predict T2D later in life ( 4 ) . Traditionally , T2D has been considered to be a disease of the elderly . However , with increasing obesity and sedentary lifestyle in children , there are increasing numbers of cases of T2D already occurring at a young age in many population s ( 5 ) . In the past two decades several innovative RCTs have repeatedly shown that interventions on modifiable risk factors can reduce the incidence of diabetes in high-risk groups . The evidence has been summarized in several systematic review s and meta-analyses ( 6,7 ) . There is compelling scientific evidence from RCTs that T2D can be prevented or its onset delayed . The key for prevention is a multimodal package of lifestyle changes that is a sum outcome of dietary and physical activity behaviours . The power of lifestyle was dramatically illustrated by the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study ( DPS ) that explicitly showed that when the study participants with impaired glucose tolerance reached all five modest lifestyle intervention targets , none of them progressed to T2D ( 8) . Importantly , lifestyle intervention lasting for 3–6 years has been shown to have a carry-over effect on T2D incidence that lasts for several years ; up to 15 in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study ( 9 ) and 20 years in the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study ( 10 ) . The observed sustained risk reduction seems to be a result of sustained lifestyle changes , but the legacy effect of improved glycaemia during the early intervention may also have contributed to the long-term effect . The follow-up data from the Chinese study indicate moreover that vascular risks are also reduced by lifestyle management . Several prognostic question naires exist for detecting people at risk of T2D ( 11 ) . One of the screening tools with an adequately high sensitivity and specificity is the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score ( FINDRISC ) developed in Finl and ( 12 ) . The FINDRISC has been successfully implemented in the Finnish primary health care system and used also in many other countries . The FINDRISC was also tested in the Omani population and as a result a slightly modified Omani Diabetes Risk Score was developed ( 13 ) which may be a suitable screening tool for the Arab population s in the Middle East . Lifestyle interventions aim ing at translating evidence from efficacy RCTs on T2D prevention into “ real world ” intervention programmes have also been carried out in various population s. Such data were recently combined in a meta- analysis considering the relationship between intervention effectiveness and adherence to guidelines ( 14 ) . The primary meta- analysis included 22 studies with outcome data for weight loss at 12 months . The pooled result of the direct pairwise meta- analysis shows that BACKGROUND Natural products are proved to play a good role as an alternative to synthetic chemicals in many clinical conditions . Hypercholesterolemia is the most important risk factor for atherosclerosis . Previous studies showed that Nigella sativa L. has both antioxidant and lipid lowering potentials . THE AIM OF THIS STUDY To evaluate the efficacy of the seeds of Nigella sativa on the treatment of hyperlipidemia . METHODS In this r and omized , placebo controlled clinical trial which was conducted in Isfahan city ( Iran ) , 88 subjects aged > or = 18 years with a total cholesterol concentration > 200 mg/dl were included . According to the patients " profiles number , they were r and omized to receive either N. sativa capsules or the matching placebo . Each N sativa capsule contained 500 + /- 10 mg N. sativa crushed seeds , and patients had to take 2 g N. sativa per day for 4 weeks . Fasting baseline laboratory values ( fasting blood sugar , total cholesterol , low density lipoprotein , high density lipoprotein and triglyceride ) were obtained for all parameters on each subject prior to the start of the study and at the end of 4 weeks . RESULTS In our study a significant decrease was observed in the concentration of total cholesterol ( 4.78 % ) , Low density lipoprotein ( 7.6 % ) and Triglyceride ( 16.65 % ) , and this decrease was more significant for TG concentration .  N. sativa had not any beneficial effects on Fasting blood sugar and High density lipoprotein . CONCLUSION According to the results of our present study it seems that N. sativa may have some beneficial therapeutic effects in the treatment of hyperlipidemia . However , further investigations with a larger sample size are necessary A growing body of scientific evidence has linked dairy intake to a reduced  type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) risk . Using an evidence -based approach , we review ed the most recent and strongest evidence on the relationship between dairy intake and the risk of T2D . Evidence indicates that dairy intake is significantly associated with a reduced T2D risk , and likely in a dose-response manner . The association between low-fat dairy and T2D risk reduction appears consistent . A beneficial impact is suggested for regular-fat dairy . The role of specific dairy products needs to be clarified . Potential underlying mechanisms include the role of dairy products in obesity and metabolic syndrome , as well as several dairy components , such as calcium , vitamin D , dairy fat , and specifically trans-palmitoleic acid . To conclude , there is strong , consistent , and accumulating evidence that dairy intake reduces the risk of T2D . More research is needed to better underst and the role of regular-fat and specific dairy products . Well- design ed r and omized controlled trials and mechanistic studies are needed to support these findings . Efforts to translate this evidence into clinical practice and public health guidance are needed Type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) has attained the status of a global p and emic , spreading from affluent industrialized nations to the emerging economies of Asia , Latin America , and Africa . There is significant global variation in susceptibility to T2D , with Pacific Isl and ers , Asian Indians , and Native Americans being considerably more prone to develop the disorder . Although genetic factors may play a part , the rapidity with which diabetes prevalence has risen among these population s reflects the far-ranging and rapid socioeconomic changes to which they have been exposed over the past few decades . Traditionally , obesity and its correlate , insulin resistance , have been considered the major mediators of T2D risk ; however , recent evidence shows that early loss of β-cell function plays an important role in the pathogenesis of T2D , especially in nonobese individuals such as South Asians . Knowledge of the modifiable risk factors of T2D is important , as it forms the basis for design ing cost-effective preventive and therapeutic strategies to slow the epidemic in population s at increased risk . Lessons learned from r and omized prevention trials need to be implemented with appropriate cultural adaptations , accompanied by empowerment of the community , if the diabetes epidemic is to be slowed or halted BACKGROUND Diabetic patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia are at a high risk of cardiovascular complications . OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on the lipid profile , mean arterial pressure , and heart rate in persons with type 2 diabetes on oral hypoglycemic agents ( OHA ) .  DESIGN Single-blind , nonr and omized . SETTING Diabetes clinic of a university hospital in Saudi Arabia . PATIENTS AND METHODS Type-2 diabetic patients were recruited by purposive sampling and assigned to treatment or control at the discretion of the investigator with the patient blinded to treatment . Before the intervention and every 3 months thereafter until the end of the treatment period , the following parameters were measured : triglycerides ( TG ) , total cholesterol ( TC ) , low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) , diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) , mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) , heart rate ( HR ) , and body mass index ( BMI ) . Results at the baseline and each subsequent visit were compared between the two groups . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Lipid and cardiovascular parameters , and BMI . RESULTS Fifty-seven patients were assigned to receive N sativa 2 g daily for one year and 57 were assigned to receive an identical regimen of placebo , along with OHA . A significant decrease in HDL-C and increase in the TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were seen in the control group . The N sativa group had a significant decline in TC , LDL-C , TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios , compared with the respective baseline data and the control group . HDL-C was significantly elevated in the N sativa group . The control group showed a significant elevation in MAP . The N sativa group had a significant reduction in SBP , DBP , MAP and HR and a significant decrease in DBP , MAP and HR as compared with the control group . CONCLUSION N sativa supplementation improves total cholesterol , mean arterial pressure and heart rate in type 2 diabetes patients on oral hypoglycemic agents .  LIMITATIONS There were 9 subjects in each group lost to follow up ; thus the sample size could not be maintained as per the sample size calculation . The study was nonr and omized and thus there was a possibility of allocation bias . ( Clinical trial registration number : CTRI/2013/06/003781 , Clinical Trial Registry of India )
Although , the meta- analysis conducted included a few number of studies , but has shown promising results on the effectiveness of N. sativa on glucose homeostasis and serum lipids .
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE ( S ) Global prevalence of type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) is very high and is currently growing alarmingly .
With respect to recent research ers ' attention to the potential role of herbal medicine in disease prevention and management , the present meta- analysis review investigates the effectiveness of Nigella sativa ( N. sativa ) , a popular herb , in T2D .