What are the effects of crocin supplementation on lipid profile and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes? A randomized clinical trial

• Crocin as a bioactive ingredient in saffron may improve metabolic status in diabetic patients. • Current study preformed as a randomized clinical trial on diabetic patients. • Diabetic patients received 30 mg crocin for 12-weeks. • Crocin supplementation in comparison with placebo significantly reduced TG and TOS level. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications are a life threat to people across the world. Today’s dietary supplement received much attention as a complementary therapy to reduce the risk of disease and its complications. Available data indicated the beneficial effects of crocin, a carotenoid compound, on T2DM complications; however, there is still no consolidated conclusion about this. So, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of crocin supplementation on lipid profile and oxidative stress in patients with T2DM. In the present study with a parallel-group design, 50 patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to either receive 30 mg crocin or placebo for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, body fat, lipid profile, and oxidative stress were assessed at the beginning and the end of the intervention. Based on the analysis crocin supplementation in comparison with placebo significantly reduced plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) (p = 0.003) and total Oxidant Status (TOS) (p = 0.016), but didn’t have any impressive effect on other factors. According to the present study crocin supplementation can probably improve the plasma levels of TG and TOS in patients with T2DM, although further studies are needed to confirm these findings.