Natural products may improve blood sugar and cardiovascular risk markers in type 2 diabetes
Key takeaway:
This review of nine randomized trials suggests several natural products may improve blood glucose, HbA1c, lipids, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes, but results vary across products and studies are generally small.
Study at a glance
What was studied
A systematic review of nine randomized trials of natural products in type 2 diabetes.
Study type
Systematic Review
duration
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Intervention
American ginseng
Outcomes
HbA1c, Blood glucose, Systolic blood pressure
Funding
Non-industry sponsored
Main effects
HbA1c ↓ in several included natural-product RCTs
Blood glucose markers ↓ in multiple studies, with variable magnitude
Cardiometabolic risk markers (lipids, blood pressure, hs-CRP) showed mixed-to-positive shifts
Evidence Summary
| Intervention | Outcome | Measured Change | Study Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 American ginseng (Supplements) |  Blood glucose (Glycemic Control) | Decrease | Mixed |
American ginseng (Supplements) | HbA1c (Glycemic Control) | Decrease | Mixed |
American ginseng (Supplements) |  Systolic blood pressure (Metabolic Health) | Decrease | Limited |
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Evidence Suggest
- The review included nine randomized human trials and reported favorable trends for several natural products.
- Effects were not uniform across all interventions and outcomes.
- Small sample sizes and heterogeneous protocols reduced overall certainty.
Who this applies to
Adults with type 2 diabetes in outpatient settings
Keep in Mind
This paper synthesizes multiple trials rather than testing one new intervention directly.
Between the Lines
- Systematic review design, not a single primary intervention trial
- Heterogeneous interventions, doses, and outcomes
- Generally small trial sizes
- Limited standardization for pooled interpretation
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Journal Reference
Shrivastav D, Kumbhakar SK, Srivastava S, Singh DD. Natural product-based treatment potential for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. World J Diabetes. 2024;15(7):1603-1614. doi:10.4239/wjd.v15.i7.1603
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