Eight Weeks ofCosmos caudatus(Ulam Raja) Supplementation Improves Glycemic Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives. Optimizing glycemic control is crucial to prevent type 2 diabetes related complications.Cosmos caudatusis reported to have promising effect in improving plasma blood glucose in an animal model. However, its impact on human remains ambiguous. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness ofC. caudatuson glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes.Materials and Methods. In this randomized controlled trial with two-arm parallel-group design, a total of 101 subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to diabetic-ulam or diabetic controls for eight weeks. Subjects in diabetic-ulam group consumed 15 g ofC. caudatusdaily for eight weeks while diabetic controls abstained from takingC. caudatus.Both groups received the standard lifestyle advice.Results. After 8 weeks of supplementation,C. caudatussignificantly reduced serum insulin (−1.16 versus +3.91), reduced HOMA-IR (−1.09 versus +1.34), and increased QUICKI (+0.05 versus −0.03) in diabetic-ulam group compared with the diabetic controls. HbA1C level was improved although it is not statistically significant (−0.76% versus −0.37%).C. caudatuswas safe to consume.Conclusions.C. caudatussupplementation significantly improves insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes.