Nigella sativa as a promising intervention for metabolic and inflammatory disorders in obese prediabetic subjects: A comparative study of Nigella sativa versus both lifestyle modification and metformin

Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the effect of Nigella sativa (NS) on anthropometric, metabolic and inflammatory parameters and examining its related molecular mechanisms in obese prediabetic individuals as compared to both lifestyle modification (LM) and Metformin (Met). Methods: This study included 117 obese prediabetic subjects who were randomized into LM group which followed controlled diet and exercise regimen, metformin group received metformin 500 mg tablets twice daily and NS group received NS oil soft gelatin capsules 450 mg twice daily. Anthropometric (weight, BMI), glycemic, lipid, inflammatory parameters and genetic expressions of Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) and p53 genes were assessed before and six months after interventions. Results: Post-intervention pairwise comparison revealed that, NS was statistically similar to metformin in improving anthropometric, glycemic parameters and SIRT1 gene expression. There was non-significant difference between LM and NS regarding their effects on anthropometric and most of glycemic parameters. Lifestyle modification group showed significantly higher HOMA-B and SIRT1 expression than NS and metformin. Nigella sativa improved lipid panel and significantly reduced TNF-alpha level and Castelli risk index-I as compared to other interventions. Conclusion: Nigella sativa uniquely improved lipid panel and significantly suppressed inflammation. Therefore, Nigella sativa may represent a promising intervention for obese prediabetic subjects. Clinicaltrial.gov ID: NCT03925714. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that NS is statistically similar to metformin in improving anthropometric, glycemic parameters and SIRT1 gene expression. There was no significant difference between NS and LM in terms of anthropometric and most glycemic parameters, but LM group showed significantly higher HOMA-B and SIRT1 expression than NS and metformin.