COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM & CINNAMON VERSUS SITAGLIPTIN ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL AND BODY WEIGHT IN TYPE 2 DIABETES: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Background. Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes are growing health concerns worldwide, associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and other complications. Conventional treatments like sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, have shown efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes by improving glycemic control. However, there is a growing interest in exploring complementary and alternative therapies, including herbal remedies like Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) and cinnamon, which have been traditionally used to manage blood sugar levels.Objectives: The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of sitagliptin and herbal drugs such as Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) and cinnamon in treating patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Methodology This prospective comparative study was conducted in the department of Medicine at Hamdard University Hospital (Taj Medical Complex) Karachi over a period of six months from July 23 to December 2023. Two hundred participants were selected and they were divided into two groups of one hundred participants each by a process of random sampling. Group A was given sitagliptin and the second group was given herbal medicine for 12 weeks. The efficacy of the two treatments was evaluated by measuring the Fasting Blood Glucose (FBS), Random Blood Glucose (RBS), Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist-Hip Ratio on days 0, 30, 60 and 90 of treatment.. Results: The study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in fasting blood sugar (FBS), random blood sugar (RBS), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in both the herbal and allopathic treatment groups. Notably, the herbal group, which received Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) and cinnamon, showed superior efficacy by day 90 compared to the allopathic group. This suggests that the combination of Fenugreek and cinnamon could serve as a potential alternative or complement to conventional treatments for managing glycemic levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.Conclusions: Based on the study's findings, it can be concluded that both sitagliptin and the herbal compound containing Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) seed and cinnamon bark powder demonstrated potential benefits in managing patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The herbal remedy showed promise in improving glycemic control and anthropometric parameters, although the magnitude of effects may vary compared to sitagliptin.