An official website of the United States governmentType 2 Diabetes and Dietary Supplements
Overall, there is not enough scientific evidence to show that any dietary supplement can help manage or prevent type 2 diabetes. Some dietary supplements may provide some benefit for some conditions associated with type 2 diabetes. It is important to note, however, that there are multiple case reports linking dietary supplement use to kidney disease, which is of particular concern because diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure in the United States. Supplement use should be monitored closely in patients who have or are at risk for kidney disease.
This issue of the digest addresses some of the many supplements studied for diabetes—such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, magnesium, and omega-3s—with a focus on those that have undergone clinical trials.
What the Science Says:
Type 2 Diabetes and Dietary Supplements
Supplement and Summary of Current Research
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid may be able to improve symptoms of diabetic nephropathy, however, there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about its effect on other symptoms of diabetes.
Chromium
Chromium may be able to provide some benefit for improving glycemic control, but the research shows conflicting results. Further, there is no clear data that demonstrate that chromium plays any role in preventing the development of diabetes.
Cinnamon
Data from clinical trials have shown conflicting results on the effectiveness of cinnamon for diabetes.
Magnesium
The increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people with magnesium deficiency has suggested that magnesium supplementation may provide benefits to those patients with type 2 diabetes or those at risk for developing the disease. However, results from clinical trials have not shown a clear benefit.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Much research has examined the role of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but data are conflicting about the ability of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to affect glucose levels in patients with diabetes.
Resveratrol
There is some low certainty evidence that resveratrol could be effective for glycemic control in people with diabetes, but more research needs to be conducted before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Scientific Literature
Information for Your Patients
- Diabetes and Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
- 5 Things To Know About Type 2 Diabetes and Dietary Supplements
- Cinnamon
- Omega-3 Supplements: What You Need To Know
- Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes (CDC)
- Chinese Herbal Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (The Cochrane Collaboration)
- Ayurvedic Interventions for Diabetes Mellitus (AHRQ)
- Diabetes (NIDDK)
NCCIH Clinical Digest is a service of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NIH, DHHS. NCCIH Clinical Digest, a monthly e-newsletter, offers evidence-based information on complementary health approaches, including scientific literature searches, summaries of NCCIH-funded research, fact sheets for patients, and more.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is dedicated to exploring complementary health products and practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary health researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCIH’s Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCIH website at nccih.nih.gov. NCCIH is 1 of 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States.
Copyright
Content is in the public domain and may be reprinted, except if marked as copyrighted (©). Please credit the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health as the source. All copyrighted material is the property of its respective owners and may not be reprinted without their permission.