Effects of ladyfingers on blood lipids and blood glucose

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is cluster of pathological states, which start from hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, eventually cause obesity, hypertension, heart diseases and stroke. Hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic agents used in allopathy cause adverse effects, so researchers are trying to investigate on medicinal herbs to solve the problem. Abelmoschus esculentus or ladyfinger has hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic potential. In this study Bhindi or ladyfinger was used along with placebo to see exact potential of the herb to normalize increased blood glucose and lipids levels. The study was conducted in National hospital Lahore from June 2017 to October 2017. 60 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and secondary hyperlipidemia were selected from medical OPD of the hospital and were divided in two groups. Group-I was on placebo and group-II was advised to take 200 grams raw ladyfinger in divided doses for three months. Baseline fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profile was determined at day-0, day-30, day-60, and at the end of research period ie; day-90. For statistical analysis SPSS version 2010 was used. Paired ‘t’ test was applied to see p-value of the tested parameters. It was observed that lady finger reduced blood LDL-cholesterol 26.04 mg/dl (p-value <0.001) and FBS 16.63 mg/dl (p-value <0.01). It was then concluded from the trial that ladyfinger has significant hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic potential and may be used in diabetic, and hyperlipidemic patients safely