Iran: A recent study published in Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome has shed light on the beneficial effects of berberine and fenugreek seed in type 2 diabetes patients and stated that consuming them may improve diabetes symptoms and quality of life.
The study found that a combination of berberine and fenugreek seed improved cardio-metabolic status in diabetics and support the anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory role of herbs in improving quality of life. Furthermore, the researchers did not observe any significant gastrointestinal side effects with this combination.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide and is associated with many complications. There has been increasing stress on the use of alternative therapies for diabetes management in recent years. Considering this, Fatemeh Borazjani, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, Iran, and colleagues aimed to examine the effect of co-supplementation of berberine and fenugreek in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial on 50 T2DM patients. They were randomized for 12 weeks in the intervention group, which received 3 capsules/day of 500 mg (300 mg of berberine + 200 mg of fenugreek seed powder) or a placebo. At the beginning and end of the study, the measurements of biochemical and anthropometric variables were done.
Based on the study, the researchers reported the following:
Fasting insulin, HbA1C, and hs-CRP significantly decreased in the intervention group compared to the baseline.
The mean difference in insulin resistance (-0.32 vs. 0.15), fasting blood sugar (-14.40 vs. 1.68), and fasting insulin (- 2.18 vs. 1.34) were clinically significant in comparison to the control group.
Almost all domains of SF-12 scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the placebo group.
"Our results revealed some beneficial effects of berberine and fenugreek seed on glycemic indices, lipid profiles, and inflammatory factors in T2DM patients," the researchers wrote. "Consuming a combo of berberine and fenugreek seed may be an appropriate strategy for improving diabetes symptoms and quality of life."
"Further well-designed studies with a longer intervention period, multiple centers, and a larger sample size are suggested without the limitations of our study," they concluded.
Reference:
Nematollahi, S., Pishdad, G.R., Zakerkish, M. et al. The effect of berberine and fenugreek seed co-supplementation on inflammatory factor, lipid and glycemic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double-blind controlled randomized clinical trial. Diabetol Metab Syndr 14, 120 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-022-00888-9