Moringa oleifera Leaf Supplementation as a Glycemic Control Strategy in Subjects with Prediabetes

Nutrients
Q1
Dec 2021
Citations:47
Influential Citations:3
Interventional (Human) Studies
90
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Methods
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial in adults aged 40-70 with prediabetes (ADA criteria: HbA1c 5.7-6.4% or fasting glucose 100-125 mg/dL or 2-h glucose 140-199 mg/dL) who had never used drugs for glycemic control. 73 participants randomized to MO (n=38) or placebo (n=35); 65 completed (MO n=31, PLC n=34).
Intervention
MO leaf powder, 400 mg per capsule; 6 capsules per day (total 2400 mg/day); taken before each main meal (before breakfast, lunch, and dinner); duration 12 weeks.
Results
MO leaf powder supplementation for 12 weeks improved glycemic control in prediabetes vs placebo. Fasting blood glucose declined in MO and rose in placebo; HbA1c declined in MO and rose in placebo; the rate of change differed significantly between groups (treatment × visit). Insulin rose in both groups; no significant between-group differences in insulin change or HOMA-IR. About 58% of MO participants showed HbA1c improvement vs 38% in placebo. No meaningful changes in gut microbiota, hepatic or renal function markers, or appetite hormones. Authors conclude MO may act as a natural antihyperglycemic agent in prediabetes; results warrant confirmation in larger trials.
Limitations
Small sample size with high inter-individual variability leading to limited statistical power for some outcomes; 12-week duration may be insufficient to capture long-term effects; baseline HbA1c was near-normal, which may limit magnitude of detectable effects; exploratory analyses identifying predictors of HbA1c response were underpowered; findings may not generalize to other Moringa preparations or higher doses.

Abstract

Moringa oleifera (MO) is a multipurpose plant with a high polyphenol content, which is being increasingly consumed to lessen the risk of chronic metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes; however, scientific evidence from clinical trials is scarce. ...