Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

Black Cumin and Improved Insulin Sensitivity

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across all 3 studies, black cumin (Nigella sativa) showed beneficial effects on improved insulin sensitivity, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The strongest evidence comes from a large 2025 meta-analysis of 82 RCTs (n=5026) reporting moderate beneficial effects. The median study duration was only 7 days, which is notably short for assessing changes in insulin sensitivity, and findings should be interpreted with caution.

  • Effective dose range: 200 to 4600 mg/day

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Median study duration was only 7 days, which may be insufficient for reliable assessment of changes in insulin sensitivity. No form data were extracted, so the influence of different preparations (e.g., oil vs. powder) remains unclear.

Generated Jun 12, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 200–4,600 (median 2,400, IQR 200–4,600) — 1 study
Time to effect
Median: 7 days · IQR 7 days–7 days · Range 7 days–7 days — Reported in 1 of 3 studies
Safety in these studies
3 of 3 papers
Back to top