The Effect of Mulberry leaf Extract Supplementation and Combined Exercises on Lipocalin-2, Interleukin 1 beta Levels and Diabetes-Related Metabolic Parameters in Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

There is not much evidence about the complementary effect of Mulberry extract and exercise on the inflammatory indicators that are effective in the pathogenesis of diabetes in the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of combined exercise (aerobic+ resistance) and consumption of Mulberry leaf extract on serum levels of lipocalin-2, interleukin-1 beta, and metabolic parameters related to diabetes in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

In this quasi-experimental and single-blind study, 40 elderly with an age range of 67.07±7.48 years were purposefully selected as a sample and randomly assigned into five equal groups (Exercise, Supplement, Supplement + Exercise, Placebo, and Control). A daily dose of 1000 mg (two 500 mg capsules) of Mulberry leaf extract was used three times weekly for two months. The groups practiced three 90 minutes sessions per week for eight weeks. The studied variables were measured 24 hours before and 48 hours after the intervention period.

The levels of lipocalin-2, interleukin-1 beta, and insulin resistance in the post-test of Exercise, Supplement + Exercise, and Supplement groups were significantly reduced compared to the pre-test (P<0.05). In the inter-group changes, the level of lipocalin-2, interleukin-1 beta, and insulin resistance in the Exercise, Supplement + Exercise, and Supplement groups had a significant decrease compared to the Placebo and Control groups (P<0.05).

It seems that the consumption of Mulberry extract can increase the effectiveness of exercise in reducing the inflammatory markers effective in diabetes and have a synergistic effect along with combined exercise.