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Effectiveness of chamomile tea on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes

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Abstract

Aims

This study aimed at assessing the effects of chamomile tea consumption on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 individuals with T2DM (males and females) aged between 30 and 60 years. The intervention group (n = 32) consumed chamomile tea (3 g/150 mL hot water) three times per day immediately after meals for 8 weeks. The control group (n = 32) followed a water regimen for the same intervention period. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and 3-day, 24-h dietary recalls were collected at the baseline and at the end of the trial. Data were analyzed by independent t test, paired t test, Pearson correlation test, and analysis of covariance.

Results

Chamomile tea significantly decreased concentration of HbA1C (p = 0.03), serum insulin levels (p < 0.001), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), triglyceride (p < 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.05) compared with control group. No significant changes were shown in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in both groups.

Conclusion

Chamomile tea has some beneficial effects on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in T2DM patients.

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Acknowledgments

We thank The Research Vice-Chancellor and Nutrition Research Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran for the financial support, and patients who participated in the study. We would like to thank all of the investigators, coordinators, and patients who took part in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition in Community, Faculty of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    M. Rafraf

  2. Students’ Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    M. Zemestani

  3. Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tabriz Health Service Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    M. Asghari-Jafarabadi

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  1. M. Rafraf
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  2. M. Zemestani
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Correspondence to M. Zemestani.

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Rafraf, M., Zemestani, M. & Asghari-Jafarabadi, M. Effectiveness of chamomile tea on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Endocrinol Invest 38, 163–170 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0170-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0170-x

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