Abstract
Dates have a low glycemic index and are a source of antioxidants but, nevertheless, contain more than 70% sugar. This study aims to assess the effects of date consumption (three dates daily) on glycemic profile (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), quality of life, and lipid profile, including total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in terms of safety for type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) subjects. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with a sample of 100 T2DM subjects (39 male and 61 female) randomly assigned in two groups. The first group received three dates daily for 16 weeks, and the control group avoided date consumption. After a 16-week follow-up period, the study results showed an improvement of lipid profile with a statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol of ∆ = −0.209 mmol/L (confidence interval (CI) 95% −0.358, −0.059; p < 0.05) and in LDL of ∆ = −0.171 mmol/L (CI 95% −0.358, 0.016) in the group receiving three dates daily. Intra-group mean differences of BMI were not statistically different in both groups after 16 weeks of date consumption. Even HbA1c did not change, both within and between groups after date consumption (∆ = 0.087%; CI 95% −0.086, 0.261). Between groups, mean difference changes (intervention minus control) showed a statistically significant improvement of quality of life index of ∆ = ± 30.66 points (CI 95% 12.45, 48.23) due to the consequent improvement in mental health. Although the definitive effect of dose/intake response of date consumption on Hb1Ac, lipid profile, and BMI in T2DM subjects is still to be established, the study suggests that dates could potentially have a beneficial effect on lipid profile, especially in reducing total cholesterol and elevating HDL, because of its high polyphenolic content. In addition, a low–moderate consumption of dates did not impact glucose levels because of dates’ low glycemic index.
Highlights
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit crops in the Middle East andNorth Africa that produce edible and delicious dates
The aim of this research is to assess the effect of date consumption on glycemic profile (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), quality of life, and lipid profile in Bahraini adult type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients
46 subjects in the intervention group were analyzed, as four patients were lost in the follow-up, while all subjects in the control group completed the follow-up
Summary
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit crops in the Middle East andNorth Africa that produce edible and delicious dates. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit crops in the Middle East and. The date fruit is a traditional delicacy and a seasonal heritage food appreciated mainly for its nutritional and medicinal values, a fact that is well documented in the Holy Quran. The Islamic tradition of breaking a fast with dates during the holy month of Ramadan is observed in all Arab and Islamic countries [2]. Nutritional analysis showed that dates are high in carbohydrates and sugar. Dates consist of more than 70% sugar, consisting mainly of glucose, fructose, and a small amount of sucrose [3]. Depending on the date variety, there are different levels and patterns of bioactive non-nutrient phytochemicals, including carotenoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids, along with flavonoids [5,6]. Four free phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid) and nine bound phenolic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and o-coumaric acid) were identified in Omani date varieties [4]
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