The effect of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training with or without saffron supplementation on diabetes-specific markers and inflammation in women with type 2 diabetes: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

2024-06-14
European journal of sport science 24(7)
- Ali Rajabi
- Ali Akbar Nezhad Gharehlo
- Elham Madadizadeh
- Aref Basereh
- Kimya Khoramipoor
- Hossein Pirani
- Karen Khoramipour
- Othmar Moser
- Kayvan Khoramipour

PubMed: 38874882
DOI: 10.1002/ejsc.12125

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size: n = 44
Population: 44 obese women with type 2 diabetes
Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study; 12 weeks of aerobic exercise (3 sessions/week) and/or 200 mg/day saffron supplementation
Blinding: Double-blind
Duration: 12 weeks
Funding: Unclear

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise (AT) and saffron supplementation on hemostasis, inflammatory markers, and insulin resistance in obese women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A total of 44 women with T2D (mean age: 54.12 ± 5.63 years, mean BMI: 31.15 ± 1.50 kg/m², HbA1c: 85 ± 4.2 mmol/mol) were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. We were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 11 per group): saffron + training (ST), placebo + training (PT), saffron supplement (SS), and placebo (P). The ST and PT groups completed 12 weeks of AT (three sessions per week of mild to moderate intensity). The ST and SS groups were administered a daily dose of 200 mg of saffron powder for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected 48 h before the first AT session and/or nutritional supplementation and 48 h after the last AT session and/or nutritional supplementation. Post-evaluation, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance value (HOMA-IR, p < 0.001) and serum levels of glucose (p < 0.001), fibrinogen (FIB, p < 0.001), homocysteine (HCY, p < 0.001), interleukin-6 (IL-6, p < 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα, p < 0.001) showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group (p < 0.05). In particular, the ST group showed a more significant reduction in all variables compared to the PT and SS groups (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that a 12-week intervention with AT and saffron supplementation can independently improve markers related to hemostasis, inflammation, and insulin resistance. However, their combination showed the greatest effectiveness on the above markers.

Research Insights

Saffron→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
serum levels of glucose (p < 0.001) ... showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
200 mg/day
Saffron→Reduced Fibrinogen Levels
fibrinogen (FIB, p < 0.001) ... showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
200 mg/day
Saffron→Reduced HOMA-IR
Post-evaluation, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance value (HOMA-IR, p < 0.001) ... showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
200 mg/day
Saffron→Reduced Homocysteine Level
homocysteine (HCY, p < 0.001) ... showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
200 mg/day
Saffron→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
interleukin-6 (IL-6, p < 0.001) ... showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
200 mg/day
Saffron→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα, p < 0.001) ... showed significant reduction in the ST, PT, and SS groups compared to the P group
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
200 mg/day