1. Metabolic effects of the association Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled study in obese patients with type 2 diabetes
- Author
-
Giampiero Marino, Emilia Martedì, Teresa Della Corte, Sandro Gentile, Morena Sofia, Lucia Carbone, and Giuseppina Guarino
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,biology ,business.industry ,Placebo-controlled study ,Berberis aristata ,Type 2 diabetes ,Overweight ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Gastroenterology ,Intestinal absorption ,Silybum marianum ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Endocrinology ,Berberine ,chemistry ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Bioelectrical impedance analysis - Abstract
Berberine, a quaternary isoquinoline alkaloid present in Berberis aristata, is well known in terms of its cholesterol-lowering, hypoglycemic, and insulinsensitizer effects. Because of its low oral bioavailability, it has been recently formulated along with silymarin (Silybum marianum) to improve intestinal absorption. The aim of our study was to evaluate, versus placebo treatment, the possible effect of its association with silymarin on abdominal fat in overweight/obese patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. Using bioelectrical impedance at enrolment and after 6 months of treatment, we have evaluated the following clinical parameters: waist circumference, trunk fat, and visceral fat. Our results seem to indicate a clinically significant effect for the association berberine+silymarin.
- Published
- 2015