The effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A triple?blinded randomized clinical trial

Metabolic control is a major concern in preventing diabetic complications. Sa?ron as a natural source of antioxidants could play a role in alleviating diabetes insults. Te aim of this study was to investigate e?ect of sa?ron hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus.
Tis randomized triple blind study was included 54 T2D patients which randomly received either sa?ron (Group 1) or placebo (Group 2) twice daily other than routine antidiabetic treatments for 8 weeks. Serum concentration of fasting blood sugar (FBS), 2?h plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low?density lipoprotein, and high?density lipoprotein were measured as the markers of metabolic control. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were also measured at the baseline, every 2 weeks during the intervention and the end of the study. Data analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance test.
Te baseline metabolic parameters were the same in two group (P > 0.01). FBS serum level signifcantly decreased within 8 weeks in the sa?ron group (128.84 ± 31.86) as compared to the placebo (153.76 ± 41.23), (P 0.01).
Sa?ron hydroalcoholic extract may improve blood glucose control by reducing FBS in T2D patients. However, sa?ron extract has no signifcant e?ect on other aspects of diabetic control in diabetic patients.