The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in adults with type 2 diabetes in Ahvaz, Iran. The active dill arm included 24 randomized participants and 21 analyzed/completed; participants were 30-60 years old with BMI 25-35 kg/m2, overweight to moderate obesity, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Adults with type 2 diabetes received 3 g/day of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder orally for 8 weeks. The active product was given as 1 g capsules, three capsules three times daily after meals, compared with placebo.

Dill powder produced overall favorable effects on glycemic control, lipids, oxidative stress, and some gastrointestinal symptoms, with no significant effect on hs-CRP. In the dill group, insulin fell from 13.27 ± 3.8 to 10.54 ± 4.51 (P = 0.004) and HOMA-IR from 4.88 ± 2.37 to 3.86 ± 2.32 (P = 0.039); LDL-C decreased from 81.00 ± 34.79 to 71.23 ± 26.63 (P = 0.029), total cholesterol from 160.28 ± 38.26 to 149.23 ± 26.70 (P = 0.03), and HDL-C increased from 41.85 ± 11.68 to 44.80 ± 9.89 (P = 0.007). MDA decreased from 3.34 ± 2.05 to 2.22 ± 1.57 (P = 0.034), and colonic motility-related gastrointestinal symptoms improved (P = 0.01); hs-CRP did not change significantly (P = 0.283).

The study was small, single-center, and short duration (8 weeks), which limits confidence in durability and generalizability. Several outcomes were modest and some findings were primarily within-group rather than clearly robust between-group effects; gastrointestinal symptom reporting was also subjective.