Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effects of Ziziphus jujube fruit (ZJF) infusion on lipid profiles, glycaemic control and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 116 participants with T2DM (older than 30 years) were assigned to consume a balanced diet or diet plus ZJF infusion (10 g/100 mL boiling water) three times/day before main meals for 12 weeks. Diet was designed to be energy restricted (500 kcal/day deficit from estimated energy requirements), and macronutrient content was similar in both groups (55% carbohydrate, 15% protein and 30% fat). The consumption of ZJF infusion compared with the control group was associated with significant improvement in glycosylated haemoglobin (-0.68 ± 0.65 vs. -0.44 ± 0.55%; p = 0.03), total cholesterol (-24.29 ± 28.89 vs. -11.21 ± 29.98 mg/dL; p = 0.02), triglycerides (-43.3 ± 39.26 vs. -27.16 ± 46.84 mg/dL; p = 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-19.85 ± 27.62 vs. -6.55 ± 27.82 mg/dL; p = 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.56 ± 0.80 vs. -0.2 ± 0.72; p = 0.01) and total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (-0.73 ± 0.94 vs. -0.35 ± 0.77; p = 0.02). ZJF had beneficial effects on glycosylated haemoglobin and lipid profile in T2DM patients. Further research is needed to identify the mechanism of ZJF action on glucose and lipid metabolism. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.