Obesity
is an important worldwide public health problem resulted from the accumulation
of excessive food energy intake into visceral fat. In addition, a link between
obesity and insulin resistance, increased lipid profiles and oxidative stress
is documented.
Previous
studies reported that obesity is associated with a number of co-morbidities
including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular
diseases such as heart failure and coronary heart disease, osteoarthritis and
liver steatosis.
Nowadays
there is an increased demand for herbal drugs to treat obesity instead of using
synthetic ones, which may have adverse effects and are more expensive.
Cumin
(Cuminum cyminum L.) is native to the Mediterranean region and is used in
traditional medicine. Lime is a tree from the citrus family with diverse
phytochemicals, including polyphenols and terpenes.
In
2016 a study was conducted to assess the effects of combined administration of Cumin
and lime on weight loss and metabolic profiles among subjects with overweight. The
results were published in Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal.
This
randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 72
subjects with overweight, aged 18 - 50 years old. Participants were randomly
divided into three groups: Group A received high-dose Cumin and lime capsules
(75 mg each, n = 24), group B low-dose Cumin and lime capsules (25 mg each, n =
24) and group C placebos (n = 24) twice daily for eight weeks.
After
eight weeks of intervention, compared with low-dose Cumin plus lime and
placebo, taking high-dose Cumin plus lime resulted in significant weight loss.
In
addition, administration of high-dose Cumin plus lime compared with low-dose Cumin
plus lime and placebo, led to a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose
(FPG) and a significant rise in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index
(QUICKI). (1)
This
index is useful for measuring insulin sensitivity (IS), which is the inverse of
insulin resistance (IR). It has the advantage of that it can be obtained from a
fasting blood sample, and is the preferred method for certain types of clinical
research. (2)
Moreover,
a significant decrease in serum triglycerides, total-cholesterol and low
density lipoproteins- (LDL)-cholesterol levels was observed following the
consumption of high-dose C. cyminum L. plus lime. (1)
1-
Taghizadeh, M., Memarzadeh, M.R., Abedi, F.,
Sharifi, N., Karamali, F. Fakhrieh Kashan, Z., & Asemi, Z. (2016). The
Effect of Cumin cyminum L. Plus Lime Administration on Weight Loss and
Metabolic Status in Overweight Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind
Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 18(8),
e34212. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5065707/pdf/ircmj-18-08-34212.pdf
2-
Katz, A., S. Nambi, S., Mather, K., D. Baron, A.,
A. Follmann, D., Sullivan, G., & J. Quon, M. (2000). Quantitative Insulin
Sensitivity Check Index: A Simple, Accurate Method for Assessing Insulin
Sensitivity in Humans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism, 85(7), 2402–2410. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/85/7/2402/2851441