The effect of herbal porridge made with Scoparia dulcis on lipid profile of type 2 diabetics

Abstract

Porridge made of Scoparia dulcis (Walkoththamalli) leaves elicited a high anti hyperglycaemic effect and also caused an elevation in HDL-C concentration in diabetes induced Wistar rats. Thus the present study was carried out to investigate the lipid lowering effect of the Scoparia dulcis porridge in diabetic patients after consuming it for three months. Porridge was produced by incorporating Scoparia dulcis fresh leaves: rice: scraped coconut kernel in 13-15:25-30:10-13 (w/w/w) ratio using a commercial production method. Study was a randomized crossover study with 35 patients with type- 2 diabetes. The test group (mean initial fasting blood glucose (FBG=176±53) was advised to consume the S. dulcis porridge (40g porridge/ 350 mL hot water) once a day for 3 days/week for three months, and control group (mean initial FBG=174±55) was advised to consume a normal breakfast except a green leafy porridge. At the onset and end of each month, serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C and triglyceride concentrations were estimated by enzymatic kit methods and LDL-C, TC:HDL-C and LDL-C:HDL-C were calculated by the standard equations using the above parameters. A significant difference was not observed between the test and the control groups (p>0.05) for the lipid parameters except for an increment percentage of HDL-C. TC and LDL-C were above the upper limit of normal reference range for diabetics (TC200mg/dL; LDL C100mg/dL) and TG was at the upper limit of normal reference range (165mg/dL) at 0 and 3 months for both control and test groups (at 0 month: TC= test 226±57.7, control 225±54.4; LDL-C= test 154.7±49.9, control 149.7±52.2; TG= test 152±59.6, control 161±74.0 and at 3rd month: TC= test 232±49.0, control 229±41.4; LDL-C= test 160±43.5, control 151.2±34.5; TG= test 153±75.4, control 183±81.6). Percentage reductions of the TC, LDL-C and TG values from 0-3 months between test and control groups were not significant (p>0.05). However, the increment percentage of HDL-C was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the test group (3.3±18.3) compared to the control group (-5±11.6). No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the cholesterol ratios (TC:LDL-C, TC:HDL-C and LDL-C:HDL-C) between the test and control groups as well as before and after three months treatment. However, when considering the LDL-C:HDL-C ratio of patients in the test group, the percentage of patients with low CVD risk increased with a corresponding decline in the percentage of patients in high risk category which was not observed in the control group. It can be concluded that consumption of Scoparia dulcis porridge at the dose given could contribute to elevate HDL-C concentration in diabetic patients.