Background: Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis) is a traditional medicinal plant used as an antidiabetic herb in the northeast of Iran. However, its effects on diabetes-related disorders, such as diabetic dyslipidemia have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of C. colocynthis on the lipid profile of type 2 diabetes patients with dyslipidemia.
Methods: Seventy-six diabetic patients with dyslipidemia who attended the diabetes clinic in Sabzevar, Iran were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=38) to receive C. colocynthis capsules (125 mg) or a placebo group (n=38) receiving starch and Tragacanth powder (125 mg) once daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level at 8th week. Secondary outcomes included modifications in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.
Results: After 8 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in LDL-C level compared to baseline (p=0.001) and to the placebo group (p=0.006). No significant differences were observed between the C. colocynthis and placebo groups for total cholesterol (p=0.1), HDL-C (p=0.6), and triglycerides (p=0.06). No adverse events were recorded during the study.
Conclusion: In type 2 diabetic patients with dyslipidemia, C. colocynthis supplementation could significantly decline the LDL-C level over 8 weeks when compared to placebo. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of C. colocynthis.