Thymoquinone with Metformin Decreases Fasting, Post Prandial Glucose, and HbA1c in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Antihyperglycemic activity of Thymoquinone (TQ) was evaluated in diabetic mouse model and patients. METHODS: TQ (50 mg/kg) was orally administered daily for 21 days in combination with metformin in diabetic mice and a reduction on blood glucose level was monitored. In human, a 90-day randomized study was carried out in 60 Type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients to evaluate safety and efficacy of TQ administration with metformin in a 3-arm study. Patients in arm 1 (T1) received 1 tablet of metformin SR 1000 mg and 1 tablet of TQ 50 mg once daily. The second arm (T2) patients received 1 tablet of metformin SR 1000 mg and 2 tablets of TQ 50 mg once daily. Patients in arm 3 (R) received 1 tablet of metformin SR 1000 mg only. RESULTS: The diabetic mice treated with combination of TQ and metformin showed significant decrease in blood sugar compared to those treated with only metformin. In patients who completed the study, the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values in T1, T2 and R decreased after 3 months from 7.2, 7.2 and 7.3 to 6.7, 6.8, and 7.1, respectively. A greater reduction in Fasting Blood Glucose and Post Prandial Blood Glucose was also observed in T1 and T2 arms compared to R. CONCLUSION: At dose levels of 50 and 100 mg of TQ combined with a daily dose of 1000 mg Metformin demonstrated a reduction in the levels of HbA1c and blood glucose compared to the standard treatment of diabetic patients with metformin alone.

Retrospective comparison of voglibose or acarbose as an add-on therapy to sulfonylureas in Western Indian patients with uncontrolled overweight/obese type 2 diabetes.

AIM: The study was aimed to investigate the effect of voglibose or acarbose as an add-on treatment in overweight/obese type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients who are uncontrolled with metformin and sulfonylureas (SUs) in Western part of India. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study included 77 participants (BMI≥25kg/m(2); HbA1c level>8% and<9.5%) with overweight/obese T2DM. These participants were treated with either voglibose or acarbose. Glycemic parameters (fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), bodyweight, BMI and lipid parameters were evaluated at baseline, 3-month, 6-month and 9-month of treatment. Adverse events were also captured at respective time points. RESULTS: Voglibose showed significant reduction in HbA1c and bodyweight with short duration of treatment (6 months; P<0.05 and 9 months; P<0.01) whereas acarbose showed significant reduction with longer duration of treatment (9 months; P<0.05) when compared with baseline. Moreover, both treatment groups were reported with reduction in BMI. Further, significant improvement in lipid parameters except LDL and HDL were observed in both treatment groups when compared with baseline. None of participant was discontinued due to side effects of the treatment. In addition, the frequency of hypoglycemia was decreased in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Voglibose or acarbose as an add-on treatment with metformin and sulfonylureas in uncontrolled obese/overweight T2DM provides desired glycemic control, reduces bodyweight and improves lipid parameters with good tolerability profile.