Washington, Apr 10 : An all-natural dietary supplement prepared from citrus may help people with type 2 diabetes reduce their blood glucose numbers and LDL-cholesterol levels, say researchers.

The pilot study was conducted over twenty adults with diabetes and were receiving oral diabetes medications. They were randomly assigned to receive either Diabetinol(tm) or a placebo twice per day for three months.

The findings revealed that after 84 days, the group receiving Diabetinol(tm) showed a significant 19 percent reduction in glucose intolerance measured as peak changes in blood glucose over the four hours of a standard oral glucose challenge.

During animal studies, twelve hamsters were treated with a special high-fructose diet to induce diabetes-like symptoms including increased blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Half of the animals were then given Diabetinol(tm) for 42 days. At the end of the study, the Diabetinol(tm)-treated animals showed improvements in each blood glucose, insulin, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Both the studies suggested that Diabetinol(tm) might help lower blood glucose levels and be beneficial in lowering the risks of heart disease and diabetic complications in people with type 2 diabetes.

"Our scientifically validated testing has consistently shown that Diabetinol(tm) improves blood glucose numbers. This time we saw a sizeable change in glucose intolerance in just a short time," said Mal Evans, DVM, MSc, PhD, KGK Synergize Inc's Scientific Director.

"Tighter blood sugar control may mean less diabetic complications like nerve pain and kidney disease. And, that could mean less disability and expense from complications and associated medications and certainly less stress for the patient.

"Although there were no statistically significant changes in fasting blood glucose levels in either group, the Diabetinol(tm)-treated subjects demonstrated an excellent favourable downward trend in their haemoglobin A1C levels.

"Additionally, the Diabetinol(tm)-treated group showed improvements in LDL-cholesterol levels," Evans added.

Both the studies were presented at the Experimental Biology Annual Meeting.

ANI