Sesame oil exhibits synergistic effect with anti-diabetic medication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

SummaryBackground & aimsRecently, studies have reported that sesame oil lowered blood pressure and improved antioxidant status in hypertensive and diabetic-hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sesame oil with anti-diabetic (glibenclamide) medication as combination therapy in mild-to moderate diabetic patients.MethodsThis open label study included sixty type 2 diabetes mellitus patients divided into 3 groups, receiving sesame oil (n = 18), 5 mg/day (single dose) of glibenclamide (n = 20), or their combination (n = 22). The patients were supplied with sesame oil [BNB Sesame oilTM] except glibenclamide group, and instructed to use approximately 35 g of oil/day/person for cooking, or salad preparation for 60 days. 12 h-fasting venous blood samples were collected at baseline (0 day) and after 60 days of the experiment for various biochemical analysis.ResultsAs compared with sesame oil and glibenclamide alone, combination therapy showed an improved anti-hyperglycemic effect with 36% reduction of glucose (P < 0.001 vs before treatment, P < 0.01 vs sesame oil monotherapy, P < 0.05 vs glibenclamide monotherapy) and 43% reduction of HbA1c (P < 0.001 vs before treatment, P < 0.01 vs sesame oil monotherapy, P < 0.05 vs glibenclamide monotherapy) at the end point. Significant reductions in the plasma TC, LDL-C and TG levels were noted in sesame oil (20%, 33.8% and 14% respectively vs before treatment) or combination therapies (22%, 38% and 15% respectively vs before treatment). Plasma HDL-C was significantly improved in sesame oil (15.7% vs before treatment) or combination therapies (17% before treatment). Significant (P < 0.001) improvement was observed in the activities of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in patients treated with sesame oil and its combination with glibenclamide.ConclusionsSesame oil exhibited synergistic effect with glibenclamide and can provide a safe and effective option for the drug combination that may be very useful in clinical practice for the effective improvement of hyperglycemia.