Fenugreek May Lower Glucose and Cholesterol Levels in Diabetics

Fenugreek is a plant whose seeds are commonly used in Indian and South Asian cooking. A recent study suggests that taking a fenugreek supplement may help lower elevated blood glucose and cholesterol levels in diabetics and pre-diabetics.

For this study, researchers examined 10 articles with a total of 1,173 people. Within those studies (which were conducted between 1997 and 2015), the treatment dose of fenugreek ranged from 1 to 100 grams with a median of 6.3 grams.

Fenugreek supplementation was found to be associated with significant improvements in fasting blood glucose. It was also associated with reductions in total cholesterol levels. No statistically significant association was found between fenugreek and triglyceride levels, LDL cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol in pre-diabetics.

Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China conducted the study. It was published on December 24, 2016, in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Fenugreek is rich in minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, copper, zinc, manganese and magnesium. It also contains vitamin B6, protein and dietary fiber. Fenugreek also contains choline which studies have shown to help slow mental aging, help with PMS and relieve symptoms of menopause. Fenugreek has a sweet taste that is often compared to maple syrup and can be added directly to food. It can also be taken as a supplement.