Fenugreek Seed Powder Helps Improve Hyperlipidemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Supplementation with Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder significantly improved lipid metabolism in participating type 2 diabetic patients.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases worldwide, affecting an estimated 350 million individuals worldwide and resulting in almost 5 million deaths each year ¹. Approximately 90-95% of cases involve type 2 diabetes, also known as “adult-onset diabetes” ². Alarmingly, over recent years, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among younger individuals has been steadily increasing, and along with it, the use of synthetic antidiabetic drugs ³. Considering the various side effects associated with the pharmacological treatment of diabetes ⁴, interest in alternative, natural medicines is high. Trigonella focenum-graecum L., also known as fenugreek, is associated with various medicinal benefits, though it is particularly noted for its antihyperglycemic effects ⁵. Several studies have linked fenugreek seed powder with potent anti-dyslipidemic effects, demonstrating its ability to significantly improve total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ^6-9. Although the exact mechanisms involved in fenugreek’s antidiabetic effect are still under study, some research suggests that the herb may be capable of indirectly regulating thyroid hormone levels ¹⁰. In 2019, a study ¹¹ published in the Journal of Diabetes Research examined the potential anti-dyslipidemic effects of fenugreek in a group of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients.

A total of 95 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose levels ≥ 150 mg/dL with abnormal lipid profile) (aged 35 years and older) were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to consume 25 mg of fenugreek seed powder solution or metformin (anti-diabetic medication) twice daily for one month. At baseline and at the end of the intervention period, blood samples were collected from participants to determine lipid profile (TC, TG, HDLC, and LDL-C).

At the end of 30 days, researchers observed a more significant reduction in TC levels for the fenugreek group vs. controls (189.29 vs. 208.22 mg/dl, respectively, p < 0.001). The treatment group also demonstrated a more significant decrease in TG (195.79 vs. 244.11 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and LDL-C (105.61 vs. 144.11 mg/dl, p < 0.001) than controls. For HDL-C, levels were significantly elevated in the fenugreek group, relative to controls (48.32 vs. 36.01 mg/dl, p < 0.001). While subjects receiving treatment with fenugreek exhibited significant improvement on all parameters from baseline to the end of the study (p < 0.001 for all), lipid profiles of control subjects showed no significant changes over the course of the treatment period.

In general, evidence from the current study confirms the cardiometabolic benefits prescribed to Trigonella focenum-graecum L. Supplementation with fenugreek seed powder solution was seen to produce significant improvements on all parameters associated with lipid profile, in concordance with its suggested anti-dyslipidemic effects. Although further work is needed to define the underlying mechanisms responsible for the herb’s therapeutic effects, current evidence suggests that fenugreek may be a promising alternative or adjunct to conventional anti-diabetic medications in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. Additionally, while significant improvements in lipid profile were observed over the course of the study, the failure to re-test fasting glucose levels at the end of treatment, along with the trial’s relatively short treatment duration, may be considered notable study limitations.

Source: Gebermeskel GA, Debebe YG, Nguse NA. Antidiabetic effect of fenugreek seed powder solution (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on hyperlipidemia in diabetic patients. Journal of Diabetes Research. 2019: 8507453. DOI: 10.1155/2019/8507453.

© 2019 Genet Alem Geberemeskel et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Posted September 24, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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