The Efficacy of Boswellia Serrata Gum Resin for Control of Lipid Profile and Blood Glucose in Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND Regarding preclinical evidence for antidiabetic effects of Boswellia serrata, we evaluated anti-hyperglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of Boswellia serrate gum resin in type 2 diabetic patients in a double-blind randomized placebo-control trial. METHODS Fifty-six diabetic patients were randomly allocated to two groups to receive 250 mg of the Boswellia serrate gum resin or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks, in addition to their routine antidiabetic treatments. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin level, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride of serum were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS Although there was a considerable reduction after the intervention in FBS (P=0.04), HbA1c (P=0.02) and triglyceride (P=0.01) in the Boswellia serrate gum resin group, no significant difference was observed in all outcome measures between the two groups at the end of the study (FBS P=0.09, HbA1c P=0.20, total cholesterol P=0.31, LDL P=0.49, HDL P=0.10, triglyceride P=0.78 and insulin level P=0.86). CONCLUSION The current study showed the 8 weeks complementary use of Boswellia serrate gum resin with a daily dose of 500 mg had no better glucose and lipid lowering effect than placebo in diabetic patients.