The effects of citrulline supplementation on meta-inflammation and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Diabetology and metabolic syndrome 2021-05, Vol.13 (1), p.52-52, Article 52
• Main Authors: Abbaszadeh, Fatemeh, Azizi, Samaneh, Mobasseri, Majid, Ebrahimi-Mameghani, Mehrangiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Beta cells; Blood glucose; Blood pressure; Blood sugar; Body mass index; Cellulose; Citrulline; Clinical trials; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes therapy; Dietary supplements; Double-blind studies; Enzymes; Glucose; Glycosylated hemoglobin; Hemoglobin; Homeostasis; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Insulin sensitivity; Interleukin 6; Interleukins; Kidneys; Laboratories; Meta-inflammation; Metabolism; Monocyte chemoattractant protein; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Monocytes; Patients; Placebos; Product development; Serum levels; Software; Supplements; TLR4 protein; Toll-like receptors; type 2; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1758-5996; 1758-5996
• DOI: 10.1186/s13098-021-00669-w

This study aimed to examine the effects of L-citrulline (l-CIT) on low-grade inflammation (meta-inflammation) and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients since it has exhibited hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects in most animal studies. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 54 patients with T2D referred to specialized clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were assigned to L-CIT group (receiving orally one 3 g sachet of L-CIT daily before breakfast) or placebo group (receiving orally one 3 g sachet of microcrystalline cellulose daily before breakfast) for eight weeks. Serum levels of fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), CIT, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) were determined. The quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-B) index were estimated at the baseline and post-intervention. No significant difference was observed between the studied parameters at the baseline. L-CIT supplementation significantly reduced not only serum concentrations of fasting blood glucose but also HbA1c, serum IL-6 and TLR-4 levels in the L-CIT group (p