effect of silymarin an glycemic control of type II diabetes: a double blind randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Silymarin is a free radical scavenger and cell membrane stabilizer that may reduce insulin secretion without increasing blood-glucose concentration and this combination of effect could be useful in states of hyperinsulinaemic hyperglycemia, such as non-insulin dependent diabetes. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of silymarine on glycemic control of type II diabetes. A 4-month randomized clinical trial study was conducted. In two-well-matched groups of type II diabetes. One group [n=30] received 750mg silymarin into divided three doses per day plus standard therapy, while the control group [n=30] received standard therapy and placebo, At the beginning and the end of the study HbA[1c] PBS, serum Insulin, SGOT and SGPT were measured. The mean age of patients was 53.5 +/- 6.2 years and the mean duration of disease was 9.6 +/- 53 years. There was a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose [FBS] levels from 155 +/- 46 mg/dl to 133 +/- 39 mg/dl [p=0.001], also HbA[1]C levels from 7.82 +/- 2.01 to 6.78 +/- 1.05 [P=0.001] There was a significant decrease in SGOT [P=0.008] and SGPT [P=0.0001] levels, after 4-months treatment in the silymarin group. In addition, there was a non significant decrease in Blood pressure and weight in this group.The results show that treatment with silymarin reduces the FBS and HBA[1]C. The effect of silmarine may be due to antioxidative effects, reduction of the lipoproxidation of cell membranes and other unknown effects