Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio^1,2, Liliane Kuate-Mfeukeu ^{1, 2}, Emile Camille Noubissi Nouno^{1, 3,}Emmanuel Nnanga Nga¹, Eugène Sobngwi^{1, 3}

Authors’ affiliations

1. University of Yaoundé I, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
2. Departement of Cardiology, Yaounde Central Hospital
3. National Obesity Center, Yaoundé Central Hospital

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic populations. Safe beverages of medicinal plants contribute as a strategy for the prevention and management of these complications. The present study investigated the effects of a drink mixture of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Stevia rebaudiana extracts on diastolic function in a group of type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods: We carried out a non-randomized open-label, one-arm clinical trial. Patients with type 2 diabetes and glycated hemoglobin <8% were included. Each participant consumed 425ml of a standardized drink every morning after breakfast over a period of 8 weeks. After this, the effects on the E / A ratio (Mitral peak velocity of early filling E/ Mitral peak velocity of last filling A) and lipid profile were determined.

Results: We included 20 patients (13 women and 7 men) with a median age of 59 years [56-63.5] and type 2 diabetes of a duration of 8 years [3.25-11.5]. Transthoracic ultrasound at baseline showed 13 patients with diastolic dysfunction. After the 8 weeks intervention, lipid profile parameters improved significantly: triglycerides decreased by 45.58% (p = 0.008), LDL-cholesterol by 21% (p = 0.018) and HDL-cholesterol increased by 29.26% (p <0.001). Generally; there was an insignificant increase in E/A ratio after intervention, from 0.68 [0.55-1.00] to 0.80 [0.70-0.97], p = 0.937. However, patients with diastolic dysfunction at baseline showed a significant increase in the E / A ratio from 0.61 [0.51-0.7] to 0.83 [0.61-1] corresponding to a variation of 36.06% (p = 0.009). We did not find any significant side effects and the drink was judged to be quite palatable in 18/20 patients.
Conclusion: A drink associating Hibiscus sabdariffa with Stevia rebaudiana has beneficial effects on the diastolic function of type 2 diabetes patients with alteration at the base and also on their lipid profile.

Key words: Hibiscus sabdariffa, Stevia rebaudiana, diastolic function, type 2 diabetes.