Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus on glycemic status and on endothelial damage markers in dysglicemic patients.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a nutraceutical combination containing polyphenols extracted from Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus and chromium picolinate on glyemic status; secondary outcomes were considered the changes on endothelial markers. We randomized 65 dysglycemic patients to placebo or the nutraceutical agent for 6months. We evaluated fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), HbA1c , fasting plasma insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and adhesion molecules. At baseline and at 3 and 6months, all patients underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. We recorded a reduction of HbA1c , FPG, PPG, and HOMA-IR compared with placebo (p<0.05). After 6months, 18.2% of patients retuned to a normal glycemic status in the nutraceutical group versus 0 patients in placebo group (p<0.05); 69.7% were classified as impaired fasting glycemia and 12.1% as impaired glucose tolerance in the nutraceutical group versus 17.2% and 82.8 in placebo group (p<0.01) for both. A reduction of Hs-CRP and TNF-α was recorded with the nutraceutical. The administration of a nutraceutical combination containing A.nodosum and F.vesiculosus can be helpful in improving insulin sensitivity and glycemic status. Larger randomized studies are required to confirm the positive effects of these agents.