Oil Palm Leaf Extract in Diabetes Management

2013-06-18 14:46:29

Palm oil is the worlds most consumed vegetable oil, being a component of thousands of common products. A recently published human clinical trial in the journal Nutrition Journal shows positive preliminary results in the use of a leaf extract from the palm oil plant, Elaeis guineensis, in reducing elevated blood glucose levels.⁽¹⁾ Thirty willing participants diagnosed with pre-diabetes were included in the study and placed into one of three groups for 8 weeks: 500mg Oil Palm Leaf Extract (OPLE)/day, 1000mg OPLE/day and 1000mg Ficus deltoidae (FICUS), the other herb under investigation in this study. The findings showed a clinically significant positive effect on lowering fasting plasma glucose levels in those with pre-diabetes using OPLE but not with FICUS. The 500mg/day dose showed a more consistent lowering effect than did the 1000mg dose. No serious adverse reactions were reported during this study.This is the first human trail performed on this plant extract, following several promising animal studies done on rats. One of these showed both statistically significant hypoglycemic and anti-oxidant effects with the use of OPLE.⁽²⁾ The other study, although not showing a glucose lowering effect did show significant anti-oxidant benefit which resulted in a protective effect against kidney damage, often a consequence of improperly controlled diabetes.⁽³⁾ With further research, this once discarded part of the plant may become a useful source for a supplement in the management of pre-diabetes and diabetes.