Hypoglycaemic and Antioxidative Properties of Freeze-Dried Garcinia Kola Seeds in Type 2 Diabetics and Non-Diabetics with Chronic Foot/Leg Ulcer in Ibadan, Nigeria: A case-control clinical study

Introduction: The antidiabetic and antioxidative properties of Garcinia kola (GK) seed extracts have been well documented in animal studies; however, data on freeze-dried powder of GK seeds (FDGK) in humans are scarce. This study investigated the effect of 8-weeks supplementation of FDGK on glycaemic control and oxidative stress levels in Type 2 diabetics with or without foot/leg ulcer and compared with non-diabetics with or without chronic foot/leg ulcer in Ibadan, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Thirty diabetics with foot/leg ulcer (DFU), 30 diabetics without ulcer (T2DM), 30 non-diabetics with chronic foot/leg ulcer (NDCU) and 30 non-diabetics without ulcer (NDC) were divided into: subgroup-1 (250mgGK); subgroup-2 (500mgGK); subgroup-3 (No-supplementation). Plasma glucose (FPG), glycated haemoglobin-A1c (HbA1c), total plasma peroxides (TPP), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), antioxidant-micronutrients were determined in fasting blood samples. Wounds were clinically assessed and rated using modified ABDEFS. Results: All participants supplemented with 250mgGK or 500mgGK for 8 weeks showed decreases in TPP and OSI with improvement in wound healing, increases in TAS and antioxidant-micronutrients (p<0.05). In addition, significant decreases in FPG were observed in DFU and T2DM supplemented with 250mgGK, and also in NDC supplemented with 500mgGK. In non-supplemented subgroups, increases in TPP and OSI with decreases in TAS and antioxidant-micronutrients (p<0.05) were observed. Conclusion: Supplementation with Garcinia kola could be used as an adjunct for prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus complicated with or without foot/leg ulcer Recommendations: Caution must be taken when used as prophylactic in non-diabetics to prevent occurrence of hypoglycaemia.