Hypoglycaemic effect of fenugreek seeds in non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects

Abstract

Fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum), a commonly used condiment in Indian homes, were evaluated for hypoglycaemic property. In a metabolic study, 15 non-insulin dependent diabetic patients were given randomly, in a cross over design, diets with or without 100 g of defatted fenugreek seed powder, each for 10 days. Incorporation of fenugreek produced a significant fall in fasting blood glucose levels and an improvement in glucose tolerance test. Insulin responses were significantly reduced. There was a 64% reduction in 24 hr urinary glucose excretion with significant alterations in serum lipid profile. Serum total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased without any alteration in HDL cholesterol fraction with fenugreek diet. Incorporation of fenugreek seeds for 20 days in the diets of 5 diabetic patients resulted in similar changes of higher magnitude in all the above parameters.