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Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders
Published in: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders 2/2020

01-12-2020 | Insulins | Review article

Medicinal plants in the adjunctive treatment of patients with type-1 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials

Authors: Farzaneh Barzkar, Hamid Reza Baradaran, Mohammad Ebrahim Khamseh, Roya Vesal Azad, Jalil Koohpayehzadeh, Yousef Moradi

Published in: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders | Issue 2/2020

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Abstract

Propose

This study aims to systematically review the randomized controlled trials that address the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

The Cochrane Library (latest issue); MEDLINE (until recent); EMBASE (until recent); AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database) (until recent); and CINHAL (until recent) were searched electronically for the identification of trials until October 2019. Articles were initially screened based on title and abstract and then by full text by two independent authors. References of retrieved studies were hand-searched for further studies. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane handbook of systematic reviews of interventions. The results were summarized into GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation) tables. No meta-analysis was applicable as only one study was found for each intervention.

Results

Four RCTs were finally included in the systematic review with an overall moderate quality of conduct and low quality of reporting. The sample sizes were very small. The results of these RCTs show that cinnamon pills and Berberine/Silymarine compound capsules may decrease blood glucose indices from baseline, while fenugreek seeds and fig leaf decoction do not show any statistically significant effect.

Conclusions

The evidence is scarce and no recommendations can be made based on current evidence. Further trials with more rigorous methodology and stronger quality of reporting are needed to make conclusions.
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Metadata
Title
Medicinal plants in the adjunctive treatment of patients with type-1 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials
Authors
Farzaneh Barzkar
Hamid Reza Baradaran
Mohammad Ebrahim Khamseh
Roya Vesal Azad
Jalil Koohpayehzadeh
Yousef Moradi
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders / Issue 2/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2251-6581
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00633-x

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