Black Seed Oil for Diabetes – Summary

• Increases glucose-induced secretion of insulin
• Reduces intestinal glucose absorption
• Black seed oil is an effective add-on therapy in patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia
• Daily black seed affords improvement in daily glucose levels and HbA1c

Diabetes is a spectrum of disease in which the body is deficient in, or resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone which regulates blood sugar throughout the body. Excessive sugar circulating in the body is harmful to many organs. Black seed oil has been found to greatly improve blood sugar control in diabetes. Additionally it also protects arteries and organs in other ways. [i]

Particular benefit has been observed in individuals with glucose intolerance as black seed oil both increases glucose-induced secretion of insulin and reduces intestinal glucose absorption. [ii] A clinical study which examined patients with insulin resistance syndrome found that black seed oil is an effective add-on therapy in patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia. [i]

A study in 2010 investigating the effects of black seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes indicates that a dose of 2 gm/day of black seed might be a beneficial adjuvant (patients were given black seed in addition to their anti- diabetic medications). This was found to cause significant reductions in, fasting blood glucose as well as glucose levels two hours after a meal, also overall glycosylated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c)[iii]

[ii] Kapoor S. Emerging clinical and therapeutic applications of Nigella sativa in gastroenterology. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 7:2170-2171.