Herbs and Spices for Post-meal Blood Sugar Response

Overseen By Daniel L Smith Jr, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Must not be taking: Diabetes medications

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Diabetes, Bariatric surgery, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 10 days

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how eating potatoes, with or without herbs and spices, affects blood sugar levels. A continuous glucose monitor, which tracks glucose levels in real-time, will measure changes. Participants will try meals with just potatoes, potatoes with herbs and spices, or potatoes followed by herbs and spices later. The trial suits individuals with a stable weight, no food allergies to potatoes or spices, and who are comfortable wearing a glucose monitor for about 10 days. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative nutritional research that could enhance dietary guidelines.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you are on diabetes medications or have a condition that affects blood sugar, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that continuous glucose monitoring is safe for quantifying glucose response?

Research has shown that using herbs and spices can safely manage blood sugar levels. For example, one study found that certain herbs and spices lowered fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting they might also help control blood sugar after meals. Another study found that meals with Italian herbs and pumpkin spice improved blood flow compared to meals without spices.

These findings suggest that herbs and spices might aid in blood sugar control and are generally well-tolerated without major safety concerns. Therefore, for those considering joining a trial involving herbs and spices, current evidence indicates they are generally safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using herbs and spices to manage post-meal blood sugar levels because they offer a natural alternative to traditional treatments like insulin or oral medications. Unlike standard options that often involve direct manipulation of insulin or glucose pathways, these herbs and spices may work by influencing digestion and nutrient absorption, potentially leading to smoother blood sugar responses. This approach could provide a simple, dietary adjustment that might enhance or complement existing therapies without the need for additional drugs.

What evidence suggests that continuous glucose monitoring is effective for quantifying glucose response to herbs and spices?

Research has shown that certain herbs and spices can help manage blood sugar levels after eating. This trial will compare different meal compositions to evaluate their effects on post-meal blood sugar response. Participants in one arm will consume a potato entree with a mix of five herbs and spices, while another arm will have the same entree without herbs or spices. Studies have found that meals with Italian herbs and pumpkin spice improved blood flow and controlled blood sugar better than meals without them. Specifically, herbs like fenugreek have significantly lowered blood sugar after meals. Other spices, such as cinnamon and turmeric, have also helped people with type 2 diabetes improve their blood sugar levels. These findings suggest that adding herbs and spices to meals might help control blood sugar spikes. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with a BMI of 20-35, no food allergies to potatoes or herbs/spices, stable weight, and smartphone access. Participants must be willing to wear a glucose monitor for at least 10 days. Excluded are those eating lots of potatoes before the study, pregnant women, people with certain medical conditions or on medications affecting blood sugar.

Inclusion Criteria

No dietary restriction or food allergies to study items

Weight must be stable

Must have access to a smart phone

Exclusion Criteria

Consumed more than 1 serving of potatoes daily before enrollment

Pregnancy or anticipating pregnancy or lactation

Food allergy to study items

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume different potato entrees with or without herbs and spices, monitored by continuous glucose monitors

10 days

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Continuous Glucose Monitor

Trial Overview The study tests if continuous glucose monitoring can detect blood sugar changes after eating a potato dish with or without a mix of five herbs and spices. It aims to understand how these foods affect post-meal glucose levels using technology that tracks sugar in real-time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Potato entree with herbs or spices Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

consumption of a standardized potato entree including a mix of five herbs and spices at a fixed amount, matched for macronutrient, calorie and preparation method across arms

Group II: Potato entree with no herbs or spices, with herbs and spices mix at a subsequent meal Placebo Group 2 Interventions

consumption of a standardized potato entree, matched for macronutrient, calorie and preparation method across arms - with a provision including a mix of five herbs and spices at a fixed amount to be consumed at a subsequent meal within the same day (\>2 hours following the potato entree consumption)

Group III: Potato entree with no herbs or spices Placebo Group 1 Intervention

consumption of a standardized potato entree, matched for macronutrient, calorie and preparation method across arms

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

McCormick Science Institute

Industry Sponsor

Trials

12

Recruited

1,200+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8902252/

Endothelial Function and Postprandial Glucose Control in ... Italian herb and pumpkin spice meals significantly increased %FMD at 24 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.048 and P = 0.027, respectively).

2. nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12986-020-00471-x

The effect of 8 plant extracts and combinations on post ... The effect of 8 plant extracts and combinations on post-prandial blood glucose and insulin responses in healthy adults: a randomized controlled ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871402123001224

Comparative effectiveness of six herbs in the management ... Several herbal remedies have considerably increased insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. •. Herbal compositions are helpful at maintaining a ...

4. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/nutritiontodayonline/fulltext/2024/07000/potential_benefit_of_spices_for_glycemic_control.8.aspx

Potential Benefit of Spices for Glycemic Control Two-hour postprandial blood glucose levels of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) also were lowered (−9.37 to −39.5 mg/dL) by fenugreek intake in some reports.

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/6/756

Effect of Aromatic Herbs and Spices Present in the ... Our results showed that cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, and saffron significantly improved the fasting glucose levels in T2DM subjects.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6891552/

Evaluation of the Anti-Diabetic Activity of Some Common ... Over 900 compounds from the herbs and spices library were observed to have potential anti-diabetic activity and liquorice, hops, fennel, rosemary, and fenugreek ...

7. signos.com signos.com/blog/cooking-with-herbs-spices

Cooking with Herbs & Spices: Ingredients That Lower ... - Signos In addition to adding flavor, herbs and spices reduce post-meal glucose. Herbs for glycemic control include turmeric, fenugreek, and ginger.