People with type 2 diabetes have an 80% higher mortality rate from cardiovascular disease. Safely improving the risk factors could save a lot of lives. Exercise can help. This study wanted to see if the herb saffron could help and whether the two combined could help even more.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 44 obese women with type 2 diabetes. Their average age was 54 years. 11 were just given a placebo. 11 were given the herb saffron. 11 added a placebo to aerobic exercise, and the last 11 added saffron to aerobic exercise.
At the end of the 12 week study, in all of the saffron, exercise and exercise + saffron groups, body weight, body fat percentage and body mass index improved versus placebo.
Importantly, the diabetes markers insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and level of glucose had significantly improved in the exercise group, the saffron group and the combined group compared to placebo.
Fibrinogen, which causes platelet aggregation and blood clotting, and homocysteine, another important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, were both also significantly improved in all 3 intervention groups compared to placebo.
Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor, two important markers of inflammation, were also significantly improved in all 3 intervention groups compared to placebo.
When it came to the diabetes markers, the cardiovascular markers and the inflammatory markers, the impressive results achieved with either exercise or saffron alone were multiplied when the two were combined.
This study suggests that aerobic exercise and saffron can each independently improve markers of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and that, when combined, they work even better. So, eat well, get your exercise, and consider adding saffron.
Eur J Sport Sci. 2024 Jul;24(7):899-906.