The effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) supplementation on blood pressure, and renal and liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blinded, randomized clinical trial

Abstract

<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> Microalbuminuria and hypertension are the risk factors for diabetic nephropathy, and increased levels of liver enzymes are prevalent among diabetic patients. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of <em>Crocus sativus</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> supplementation on nephropathy indices, liver enzymes, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).</span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Materials and Methods:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> This placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed among 80 T2D patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to either <em>Crocus sativus</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) groups and treated with </span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">C. sativus</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;"> and or placebo for 12 weeks, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum urea, creatinine, 24-hr urine albumin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), physical activity, and dietary intakes were measured and blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12</span><span style="font-size: medium;">‑week intervention to assess the differences between the two groups.</span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Results:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> <em>C. sativus</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> supplementation compared with the placebo resulted in a significant reduction of SBP (P<0.005). However, changes in other indices including liver enzymes, serum creatinine, serum urea, and 24-hr urine albumin, and DBP were not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05). Also, no significant changes in dietary intakes and physical activity were seen between the two groups.</span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Conclusion:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> This report shows that daily supplementation with 100 mg <em>C. sativus</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> powder improved SBP. However, it did not considerably improve DBP, nephropathy indices and liver functions in T2D patients after 12 weeks of administration.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>