Effect of fenugreek seeds on serum metabolic factors and adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients

This triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 88 type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients (males and females). Subjects in the fenugreek seed (n = 44) and placebo (n = 44) groups consumed 10 g/d of powdered whole fenugreek seeds or 5 g/d of wheat starch for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements and dietary records were collected at the baseline and at the end of the trial. Fenugreek seeds significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (P = 0.007) and HbA1c (P = 0.0001), serum levels of insulin (P = 0.03), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (P = 0.004), total cholesterol (P = 0.005) and triglycerides (P = 0.0001) and increased serum levels of adiponectin (P = 0.001) compared with placebo. No significant changes were shown in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both groups. In conclusion, fenugreek seeds improved glucose metabolism, serum lipid profile and adiponectin levels in studied subjects, and may be useful in the control of diabetes risk factors in TD2M patients.