The effect of saffron ( L.) supplementation on blood pressure, and renal and liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE

Microalbuminuria and hypertension are the risk factors for diabetic nephropathy, and increased levels of liver enzymes are prevalent among diabetic patients. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of supplementation on nephropathy indices, liver enzymes, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed among 80 T2D patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to either (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) groups and treated with and or placebo for 12 weeks, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum urea, creatinine, 24-hr urine albumin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), physical activity, and dietary intakes were measured and blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12‑week intervention to assess the differences between the two groups.

RESULTS

supplementation compared with the placebo resulted in a significant reduction of SBP (P<0.005). However, changes in other indices including liver enzymes, serum creatinine, serum urea, and 24-hr urine albumin, and DBP were not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05). Also, no significant changes in dietary intakes and physical activity were seen between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

This report shows that daily supplementation with 100 mg powder improved SBP. However, it did not considerably improve DBP, nephropathy indices and liver functions in T2D patients after 12 weeks of administration.