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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #208891
Title: Bay leaves improve glucose and lipid profile of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Author
item KHAN, ALAM - NWFP AG U,PESHAWAR,PAKIST
item ZAMAN, GOHER - AG U, PESHAWAR,PAKISTAN
item Anderson, Richard

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2007
Publication Date: 4/28/2007
Citation: Khan, A., Zaman, G., Anderson, R.A. 2007. Bay leaves improve glucose and lipid profile of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 21:6.220.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bay Leaves (Laurus nobilis) have been shown to improve insulin function, in vitro, but the effects on people have not been determined. The objective of this study was to determine if bay leaves may be important in the prevention and/or alleviation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Forty people with type 2 DM were divided into 4 groups and given capsules containing 1, 2, or 3 g of ground bay leaves per day or placebo followed by 10 day washout period. All three levels of bay leaves reduced serum glucose with decreases ranging from 21 to 26%. Improvements in blood glucose were significant after 10 days, and remained significant even after the 10 day washout period. Similar results were observed for triglycerides with decreases of 27 to 33% after the washout period. Total cholesterol also decreased, 21 to 24% after 30 days, with larger decreases in LDL cholesterol of 32 to 40%. HDL cholesterol increased from 6 to 29%. There were no significant changes in the placebo group. In summary, consumption of 1-3 g of bay leaves/day for 30 days decreased risk factors for diabetes, including glucose and lipid profile, and suggests that bay leaves are beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. HEC, Pakistan and the USDA/ARS/BHNRC financially supported this project.