Date vinegar lowers blood sugar and cholesterol in type 2 diabetes
A randomized controlled trial involving adults with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia reported that daily intake of date fruit vinegar for ten weeks significantly improves blood glucose and lipid biomarkers (HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, LDL, total cholesterol, and HDL). These biomarker improvements suggest potential for reducing cardiovascular and metabolic risks. The trial findings are published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Background
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with almost 18 million deaths reported in 2017. This death toll is projected to exceed 23 million by 2030. Type 2 diabetes, characterized by high blood glucose level, is one of the significant risk factors of cardiovascular disease.
It has been hypothesized that both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes share common genetic and environmental risk factors, including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and thrombophilia.
Plant-based foods containing high amounts of bioactive compounds have shown promise in managing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Dates are one such nutritious fruit that contains various bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins, and dietary fiber.
Fermentation of dates into vinegar is an effective strategy to increase the bioavailability of these bioactive compounds. This makes date vinegar a more effective alternative for managing diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders.
In this randomized controlled trial, researchers investigated the effects of date vinegar on blood glucose and lipid profiles in adults with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. They also explored molecular mechanisms of its bioactive compounds in managing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Trial design
A total of 50 adults aged 30 to 60 were enrolled in the trial. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group participants consumed 20 milliliters of date vinegar daily for 10 weeks. The control group participants consumed a placebo drink containing honey, water, and lemon juice matched for acidity but without bioactive compounds for the same duration.
Computational docking and molecular dynamics simulations assessed the therapeutic mechanisms of date vinegar. These simulations determined the interactions of vinegar-derived bioactive compounds with key proteins related to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Important observations
The trial findings on glycemic control revealed that date vinegar intake causes a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (from 168.4 to 147.6 mg/dL) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, from 6.85% to 6.08%), both p < 0.05. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of consuming date vinegar in controlling hyperglycemia in the short term, though the study notes that clinical endpoints like complication rates were not assessed. In the control group, these parameters increased over the 10 weeks.
Regarding lipid profile, the trial reported that date vinegar intake is associated with a significant reduction in total cholesterol (225.1 to 213.1 mg/dL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (121.1 to 111.1 mg/dL) in the blood. These findings indicate that date vinegar is effective in improving lipid markers linked to cardiovascular risk. In the control group, these parameters showed minimal reduction.
