Effect of dietary supplementation of black seed (N. Sativa L.) on lipid profile of patients suffering from diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic problem closely related to cardiovascular disease leading to premature death. Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor responsible for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. This paper is based on review of articles published to observe the effect of N. Sativa (black seed) on lipid levels in patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus. A search of indexed papers and clinical trials was done using MEDLINE and PubMed and Coch-rane search engine. All studies assessing the effect of N. Sativa ingestion on lipid levels among diabetics (animal or human) were included. A total of 12 trials (6 human studies and 6 animal studies) fulfilling the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Majority of human and animal trials done among humans and animals with diabetes or metabolic syndrome demonstrated reduction in weight and improvement in serum lipid levels including decrease total lipids, triglycerides, LDL levels. However, increase in HDL level showed questionable results. N. Sativa L and its different preparations can be used as an adjuvant with lipid lowering drugs for control of lipids however its role as a main therapeutic agent cannot be recommended and more metanalysis using standardized preparations with a close watch on methodological short falls is suggested to prove its role.