The Effect of Garlic Pill on Blood Glucose Levels in Borderline Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Due to maternal hormonal changes, pregnancy is a diabetes-inducing condition accompanied by resistance to insulin and decreased sensitivity of insulin cells. The present research aimed to determine the effect of garlic pill on fasting blood sugar (FBS) and relapse of prediabetes 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention (primary outcomes), blood pressure, neonatal anthropometric indices, and type of delivery (secondary outcomes) in prediabetic pregnant women. Methods: This triple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 49 prediabetes women in 24th to 28th weeks of gestation referring to educational centers and health centers of Tabriz City (Iran) in 2015. The participants were assigned into the intervention and control groups using the block randomization. The intervention group received one 400-mg Garlic pill per day, whereas the control group received a placebo once a day for 8 weeks. Four and eight weeks following the intervention, FBS and blood pressure were measured. Newborns’ anthropometric indices and delivery type were recorded after delivery. Repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA, man-whitney and chi square tests were used to analyze the data. Results: There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics except for women’s education and job (p>0.05). Based on the repeated measures ANOVA results, by adjusting the pre-intervention FBS and the variables of woman education and job, FBS was reduced significantly 4 and 8 weeks following the intervention in the intervention group as compared to the control group (adjusted mean difference= -3.7, 95%CI: -7.3 to -0.3). The garlic pills also led to a significant decrease in the relapse of prediabetes symptoms 4 weeks after the intervention (p<0.001). Also, diastolic blood pressure reduced significantly 4 and 8 weeks following the intervention in the intervention group as compared to the control group (p= 0.041). However, no significant difference was observed between levels of systolic blood pressure, neonatal anthropometric indicators, and types of delivery (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results revealed that garlic pill reduces FBS, prediabetes symptoms (primary outcomes), and diastolic blood pressure (secondary outcomes).but it does not affect the anthropometric indices of the baby and the type of delivery (secondary outcomes). However, further research with larger sample size is required for better conclusion.