Abstract
M.Tech.
Impaired glucose tolerance, as determined by an oral glucose tolerance test, is the inability of the blood glucose regulatory mechanisms in the body to return the blood glucose levels to normal physiological levels after the ingestion of a meal (Guyton and Hall, 2006). Mollentze and Levitt (2006) report on various studies that were conducted in South Africa on the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus and they illustrate that there is an incidence of impaired glucose tolerance as high as 10.2% in certain communities and that impaired glucose tolerance may result in diabetes mellitus.
A study has shown that cinnamon controls blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity resulting in better blood sugar level control (Jarvill-Taylor et al, 2001). The above research was done on cinnamon in the crude form but there is no research on Cinnamomum verum in a homoeopathic potency.
The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of Cinnamomum verum 1X on glucose tolerance in non-diabetic males after an oral glucose tolerance test.
A double-blind pre-test post-test placebo controlled study on thirty healthy adult males between the ages of eighteen and forty years was conducted. The participants were recruited by means of an advertisement at the University of Johannesburg Health Clinic. Inclusion criteria comprised: no medication for one month prior to the study with a normal fasting blood sugar level of more than 3.0 but less than 6.0 mmol/l (Oussama, 2006); systolic blood pressure between 100 and 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure between 70 and 90 mmHg.
At the first consultation the participant data was obtained and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed. The participants were issued with 100 ml of either Cinnamomum verum 1X or a placebo and a weekly checklist to complete. After two weeks the participant data was recorded again and the oral glucose tolerance test was repeated.
The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to analyse between the group data statistically and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used to perform the within-group analysis.
The mean fasting blood glucose level of the experiment group changed from 4.71 mmol/l to 4.49 mmol/l. This was a statistically significant reduction, p = 0.025 (< 0.05). The reduction in the blood glucose level after the oral glucose tolerance test of the experiment group was also found to be statistically significant, p = 0.001 (< 0.05) with the mean value changing from 5.86 mmol/l to 5.40 mmol/l.
It was concluded that the homoeopathic remedy, Cinnamomum verum 1X taken orally twice daily, was more effective than the placebo in reducing the fasting blood glucose level and the blood glucose level after an oral glucose tolerance test in non-diabetic males between the ages of eighteen and forty years with normal initial fasting blood glucose levels within a time period of two weeks.