CLINICAL HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF ALLIUM CEPA (RED ONION) IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS
Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus results from defects in insulin secretion and/or insulin action or both.
Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of Allium cepa in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Results: In type 2 diabetic patients (n=21) the administration of crude Allium cepa (100g) markedly reduced fasting blood glucose levels by 40 mg/dl 4 hours later, compared to glibenclamide (81 mg/dl). Also Allium cepa significantly reduced the induced hyperglycemia (GTT) after ingestion of 75 grams dextrose by 159 mg/dl in the test subgroup (n=7) of type 2 diabetic patients to a point below that produced in the negative control group after 4 hours.
Conclusion: Crude Allium cepa produced hypoglycemic effects, thus it could be used as a dietary supplement in management of diabetes.
References
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2. American Diabetes Association (2001). Hyperglycemic crises in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic Care. 24: S83-S90
3. Carey, V, WE and Colditz, G (1997). Body fat distribution and risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in women: The nurse Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 145: 614-619.
4. Turner, RC; Cull, CA; Frighi, V and Holman, RR (1999). Glycemic control with diet, sulphonylureas, metformin or insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: progressive requirement for multiple therapies (UKPDS 49). UK Progressive Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Journal of American Medical Association, JAMA. 281: 2005-12
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6. Bordia, M and Verma, SK (1980). Effects of garlic feeding on regression of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits. Artery 7, 428-437.
7. Ali, M and Thomson, B (1995). Consumption of a garlic clove a day could be beneficial in prevention thrombosis. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids 53 (3): 211-212.
8. Dorant, E; Van den, B; Dorant, PA and Goldbohm, RA (1995). Allium vegetable consumption, garlic supplement intake, and female breast carcinoma incidence. Breast Cancer Res Treatment 33, 163-170.
9. Bailey, CJ (1988). Metformin revisited: its action and indications for use. Diabet Med ;5:315-320.
10. Khan, A; Mahpara, S and Mohamed, M (2003). Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes care, 26: 3215-3218
11. Reaven, E; Wright, d; Mondon, CE; Solomon, R; Ho, H and Reaven, GM (1983). Effects of age and diet on insulin secretion action in the rat. Diabetes 32, 175-180.
12. Ide, N; Nelson, AB and Lau, BH (1997). Aged garlic extract and its constituents inhibit Cu(2+)-induced oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein. Planta Med 63, 263-264.
13. Smith, TJ and Yang, CS (2000). Effect of organosulfur compounds from garlic and cruciferous vegetables on drug metabolism enzymes. Drug Metabolism & Drug Interaction 17, 23-49.
14. Slowing, K; Ganado, P; Sanz, M; Ruiz, E and Tejerina, T (2001). Study of garlic extract and fractions on cholesterol plasma levels and vascular reactivity in cholesterol-fed rats. Journal of Nutrition, 131 994S-999S.
15. Griffiths, G; Trueman, L; Crowther, T and Thomas, B (2002). Onions: a global benefit to health. Phytotherapy Research 17 (7), 603-615.
16. Kumari, K and Augusti, KT (2002). Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of S-methyl cystiene sulfoxide isolated from onion (Allium cepa Linn) as compared to standard drugs in alloxan diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 40, 1005-1009.
17. Augusti, KT (1996). Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.). Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 34, 634-640.
18. Hatono, S; Jimenez, A andWargovisch, M, (1996). Chemoprotective effects of S-allylcystiene and the relationship to the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase. Carcinogenesis 17 (5): 1041-1044
19. Chisty , M; Zuddus, R; Islam, B and Khan, B, (1996). Effects of onion extract on immune response in rabbits. Bangladesh Med. Res. 22: 82-85
20. Kindler, BS (1987). Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa): a review of their relationship to cardiovascular disease. Prev. Med. 16 (5): 670-685.
21. Katzung, GB (2001). Basic and clinical pharmacology. Pancreatic hormones and antidiabetic drugs. The McGraw-Hill, New Yourk, 8th edition, 41, 711-334.
22. Bhushan, S (1984). Effect of oral administration of raw onion on glucose tolerance test of diabetics: a
23. comparison with tolbutamide. Current medical practice, 28:712–715.
24. Shukia, R; Sharma, SB; Puri, D; Prabhu, KM and Murthy, PS (2000). Medicinal plants for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Sciences, volume 15 B-164, Sector 14, 201 30.
Schepartz, B (1973). Regulation of Amino Acid Metabolism in Mammals, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadephia. Clinical chemistry, 20 (3): 405
2. American Diabetes Association (2001). Hyperglycemic crises in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic Care. 24: S83-S90
3. Carey, V, WE and Colditz, G (1997). Body fat distribution and risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in women: The nurse Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 145: 614-619.
4. Turner, RC; Cull, CA; Frighi, V and Holman, RR (1999). Glycemic control with diet, sulphonylureas, metformin or insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: progressive requirement for multiple therapies (UKPDS 49). UK Progressive Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Journal of American Medical Association, JAMA. 281: 2005-12
5. United Kingdom Progressive Diabetes Study Group (1998). Intensive blood glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33). UK Progressive Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Lancet. 352:837-853
6. Bordia, M and Verma, SK (1980). Effects of garlic feeding on regression of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits. Artery 7, 428-437.
7. Ali, M and Thomson, B (1995). Consumption of a garlic clove a day could be beneficial in prevention thrombosis. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids 53 (3): 211-212.
8. Dorant, E; Van den, B; Dorant, PA and Goldbohm, RA (1995). Allium vegetable consumption, garlic supplement intake, and female breast carcinoma incidence. Breast Cancer Res Treatment 33, 163-170.
9. Bailey, CJ (1988). Metformin revisited: its action and indications for use. Diabet Med ;5:315-320.
10. Khan, A; Mahpara, S and Mohamed, M (2003). Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes care, 26: 3215-3218
11. Reaven, E; Wright, d; Mondon, CE; Solomon, R; Ho, H and Reaven, GM (1983). Effects of age and diet on insulin secretion action in the rat. Diabetes 32, 175-180.
12. Ide, N; Nelson, AB and Lau, BH (1997). Aged garlic extract and its constituents inhibit Cu(2+)-induced oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein. Planta Med 63, 263-264.
13. Smith, TJ and Yang, CS (2000). Effect of organosulfur compounds from garlic and cruciferous vegetables on drug metabolism enzymes. Drug Metabolism & Drug Interaction 17, 23-49.
14. Slowing, K; Ganado, P; Sanz, M; Ruiz, E and Tejerina, T (2001). Study of garlic extract and fractions on cholesterol plasma levels and vascular reactivity in cholesterol-fed rats. Journal of Nutrition, 131 994S-999S.
15. Griffiths, G; Trueman, L; Crowther, T and Thomas, B (2002). Onions: a global benefit to health. Phytotherapy Research 17 (7), 603-615.
16. Kumari, K and Augusti, KT (2002). Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of S-methyl cystiene sulfoxide isolated from onion (Allium cepa Linn) as compared to standard drugs in alloxan diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 40, 1005-1009.
17. Augusti, KT (1996). Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.). Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 34, 634-640.
18. Hatono, S; Jimenez, A andWargovisch, M, (1996). Chemoprotective effects of S-allylcystiene and the relationship to the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase. Carcinogenesis 17 (5): 1041-1044
19. Chisty , M; Zuddus, R; Islam, B and Khan, B, (1996). Effects of onion extract on immune response in rabbits. Bangladesh Med. Res. 22: 82-85
20. Kindler, BS (1987). Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa): a review of their relationship to cardiovascular disease. Prev. Med. 16 (5): 670-685.
21. Katzung, GB (2001). Basic and clinical pharmacology. Pancreatic hormones and antidiabetic drugs. The McGraw-Hill, New Yourk, 8th edition, 41, 711-334.
22. Bhushan, S (1984). Effect of oral administration of raw onion on glucose tolerance test of diabetics: a
23. comparison with tolbutamide. Current medical practice, 28:712–715.
24. Shukia, R; Sharma, SB; Puri, D; Prabhu, KM and Murthy, PS (2000). Medicinal plants for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Sciences, volume 15 B-164, Sector 14, 201 30.
Schepartz, B (1973). Regulation of Amino Acid Metabolism in Mammals, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadephia. Clinical chemistry, 20 (3): 405
Published
2009-12-01
How to Cite
TAJ ELDIN, Imad M.; AHMED, Elhadi M.; HM, Abd Elwahab.
CLINICAL HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF ALLIUM CEPA (RED ONION) IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS.
Gezira Journal of Health Sciences, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 2, dec. 2009.
ISSN 1810-5386. Available at: <http://37.60.236.48/index.php/gjhs/article/view/440>. Date accessed: 03 june 2026.
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