Investigation of the Influence of a Bitter Melon Product on Indicators of Cardiometabolic Health in Adults with Prediabetes.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of bitter melon extract supplementation on glycemia in individuals with prediabetes.

METHODS

This was a 12-week randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study where 75 adults with prediabetes were randomly allocated into the low-dose bitter melon (300 mg/day) ( = 26), high-dose bitter melon (600 mg/day) ( = 24), or control ( = 25) groups.

RESULTS

At baseline and weeks 6 and 12, anthropometrics were measured, and fasting blood samples were obtained. The high-dose (1.05% ± 10.2%) and low-dose bitter melon (3.35% ± 13.2%) groups showed smaller increases in blood glucose levels at 12 wk, compared to the control group (11.0% ± 16.3%) ( < 0.05). A subgroup analysis of participants with age ≥ the median demonstrated a greater reduction in glycated hemoglobin at 12 wk in the high-dose bitter melon group (median change: -0.20%; IQRL: -0.20%, -0.05%) vs. the control group (median change: 0.00%; IQRL: -0.10%, 0.20%) ( = 0.017). Compliance with the interventions was >95%, and the study products were tolerated well.

CONCLUSION

The bitter melon extract may help maintain a healthy level of glucose in adults with prediabetes.