Abstract
ABSTRACTThe present study was designed to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of garlic supplement in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by using the terms garlic and T2DM up to April 2017. The quality of included RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane tool of risk of bias, and data of outcomes were pooled by REVMAN 5.3. Clinical factors were handled by meta-regression and subgroup analysis, and risk of publication bias was explored by inverted funnel plots. Nine RCTs involving 768 T2DM patients were included in the meta-analysis, and the dose of daily garlic (allicin) supplement ranged from 0.05g to 1.5g. A significant reduction in the level of fasting blood glucose in 1–2 weeks [SMD = −1.61, 95%CI (−2.89, −0.32)], 3–4 weeks [SMD = −2.87, 95%CI (−4.74, −1.00)], 12 weeks [SMD = −9.57, 95%CI (−12.39, −6.75)], and 24 weeks [SMD = −21.02, 95%CI (−32.47, −9.57)] was achieved in favour of the garlic group rather than the control group. Significantly decreased fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (both in 12 and 24 weeks) were also found in garlic group. Meanwhile, significantly improved blood liquids of total cholesterol [SMD = −1.93, 95%CI (−2.98, −0.87), 3–4 weeks], high density lipoprotein [SMD = −0.41, 95%CI (−0.83, −0.00), 3–4 weeks] and low density lipoprotein [SMD = −3.47, 95%CI (−5.76, −1.18), 12 weeks] were confirmed after garlic administration. There was no significant difference in complications. Current data confirms that garlic supplement plays positive and sustained roles in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and high/low density lipoprotein regulation in the management of T2DM.Abbreviations: T2DM = type 2 diabetes mellitus; RCT = randomized controlled trial; SMD = standard mean difference; CI = confidence interval; FBG = fasting blood glucose; HbA1c = glycated hemoglobin; HDL = high density lipoprotein; LDL = low density lipoprotein.
Highlights
According to the analysis results of global data, the prevalence of diabetes melllitus in adults was about 153 million in 1980 and 347 million in 2008 [1]
Five trials adopted monotherapy of garlic for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while four trials adopted a combined therapy of garlic with oral
The results demonstrated that garlic significantly improved blood glucose control, and had significantly positive roles in blood liquid regulation in 12 weeks, which is a very common co-morbility in T2DM patients
Summary
According to the analysis results of global data, the prevalence of diabetes melllitus in adults was about 153 million in 1980 and 347 million in 2008 [1]. Garlic extract is becoming one of the most extensively studied drugs, and the positive effects of garlic supplements on blood glucose control and liquid regulation were further reported, which attracted more and more attention from researchers. A meta-analysis through identifying all available RCTs was conducted to evaluate systematically the efficacy and safety of garlic supplements in the management of T2DM on blood glucose, as well as blood liquids including total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) regulation. Detailed criteria were as follows: (1) only studies designed as RCTs were considered, and non-randomized prospective or retrospective controlled studies were excluded; (2) participants were T2DM patients who were newly or previously diagnosed by certain methods, aged between 18 and 75 years without sex limitation, and did not have a history of serious cardiovascular disease. Studies adopting row garlic rather than garlic extract preparations were excluded since accurate quantitative doses of garlic in each group is hard to determine; (4) the outcome measures should have at least included fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), other indexes of blood glucose and blood liquids, or safety (garlic related complications)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
