Effect of Aromatic Herbs and Spices Present in the Mediterranean Diet on the Glycemic Profile in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

2024-03-07
Nutrients 16(6)
- María Carmen Garza
- Sofía Pérez-Calahorra
- Carmen Rodrigo-Carbó
- María Antonia Sánchez-Calavera
- Estíbaliz Jarauta
- Rocío Mateo-Gallego
- Irene Gracia-Rubio
- Itziar Lamiquiz-Moneo

PubMed: 38542668
DOI: 10.3390/nu16060756

Study Design

Type: Meta-Analysis
Population: T2DM subjects
Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for interventional studies investigating the effect of aromatic herbs and spices on the glycemic profile in T2DM subjects

Rigorous Journal

Background

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is the dietary pattern par excellence for managing and preventing metabolic diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). The MedDiet incorporates spices and aromatic herbs, which are abundant sources of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of all aromatic herbs and spices included in the MedDiet, such as black cumin, clove, parsley, saffron, thyme, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, turmeric, basil, oregano, and cinnamon, on the glycemic profile in T2DM subjects.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for interventional studies investigating the effect of these aromatic herbs and spices on the glycemic profile in T2DM subjects.

Results

This systematic review retrieved 6958 studies, of which 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects. The most significant decreases in fasting glucose were achieved after supplementation with black cumin, followed by cinnamon and ginger, which achieved a decrease of between 27 and 17 mg/dL.

Conclusions

Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin, and only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.

Research Insights

Basil→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Basil→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Basil→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Black Cumin→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Black Cumin→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Black Cumin→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Black Pepper→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Black Pepper→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Black Pepper→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Ginger→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Ginger→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Ginger→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Parsley→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Parsley→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Parsley→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Rosemary→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Rosemary→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Rosemary→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Saffron→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Saffron→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Saffron→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Thyme→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Thyme→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Thyme→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Turmeric→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Turmeric→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Turmeric→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
clove→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
clove→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
clove→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
oregano→Improved Insulin Levels
only cinnamon and ginger showed a significant decrease in insulin.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
oregano→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
This systematic review ... 77 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 45 were included in the meta-analysis. Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
oregano→Reduced Hemoglobin A1c
Only ginger and black cumin reported a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small