Improved lipid profiles are associated with reduced incidence of coronary vascular events in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and impaired myocardial perfusion

Cissus quadrangularis extract mitigates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting RAAS activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress

IntroductionDiabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an age-related disease, and its progression is accompanied by hyperglycemia, cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial structural and functional abnormalities. Cissus quadrangularis, a traditional medicinal plant, contains polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, carbohydrates, and ascorbic acid. It is used to treat osteoporosis, asthma, haemorrhoids, and menstrual disorders. In the current research, we have investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis (EECQ) against a high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin-induced DCM by estimating cardiac biomarkers, inflammatory markers and ROS production.Material and methodsRats were fed with an HFD for 12 weeks, followed by single-shot low-dose streptozotocin (35mg/kg; i.p.). The treatment was performed by EECQ (200 mg/kg/day, orally) for six weeks. ResultsThe extract EECQ improves glucose, insulin tolerance tests, and hypercholesteremia. DCM is characterized by cardiac dysfunction, cardiac biomarkers CKMB, and LDH, which were attenuated by the EECQ treatment. The hypertrophic biomarker ANP, BNP expression and cardiomyocyte surface area were decreased by EECQ. Moreover, EECQ also alleviated the biomarkers Angiotensin II and renin level. EECQ also reduced oxidative stress, ROS production and cardiac inflammation.ConclusionThus, these findings suggested that EECQ could be used as a possible therapeutic regiment to treat DCM.

Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation over a one-year period on lipid levels, blood pressure and heart rate in type-2 diabetic patients receiving oral hypoglycemic agents: nonrandomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Diabetic patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia are at a high risk of cardiovascular complications.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on the lipid profile, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate in persons with type 2 diabetes on oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA).

DESIGN

Single-blind, nonrandomized.

SETTING

Diabetes clinic of a university hospital in Saudi Arabia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Type-2 diabetic patients were recruited by purposive sampling and assigned to treatment or control at the discretion of the investigator with the patient blinded to treatment. Before the in.tervention and every 3 months thereafter until the end of the treatment period, the following parameters were measured: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and body mass index (BMI). Results at the baseline and each subsequent visit were compared between the two groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Lipid and cardiovascular parameters, and BMI.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients were assigned to receive N sativa 2 g daily for one year and 57 were assigned to receive an identical regimen of placebo, along with OHA. A significant decrease in HDL-C and increase in the TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were seen in the control group. The N sativa group had a signifi.cant decline in TC, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios, compared with the respective baseline data and the control group. HDL-C was significantly elevated in the N sativa group. The control group showed a significant elevation in MAP. The N sativa group had a significant reduction in SBP, DBP, MAP and HR and a significant decrease in DBP, MAP and HR as compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

N sativa supplementation improves total cholesterol, mean arterial pressure and heart rate in type 2 diabetes patients on oral hypoglycemic agents.

LIMITATIONS

There were 9 subjects in each group lost to follow up; thus the sample size could not be maintained as per the sample size calculation. The study was nonrandomized and thus there was a possibility of allocation bias. (Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2013/06/003781, Clinical Trial Registry of India).