The effect of lyophilized dried cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) intake on anthropometric and biochemical parameters in women with insulin resistance: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the anthropometric and biochemical parameters for women with insulin resistance when lyophilized dried cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L., CM) was added to medical nutrition therapy (MNT). The study was conducted with 84 women aged 18–45, who had been diagnosed with insulin resistance. Participants were randomized into four groups: MNT + 20 g lyophilized dried CM group (DCm, n = 22), MNT group (D, n = 21), only 20 g lyophilized dried CM group (Cm, n = 21), and the control group (C, n = 20). All participants were followed for 12 weeks. While pre‐ and post‐intervention biochemical parameters were recorded from patient files, anthropometric measurements and food consumption records were taken every 15 days. Pre‐intervention groups were homogeneously distributed. Post‐intervention, among the groups, all anthropometric measurements were similar between the DCm and D, while the percentage of decrease in insulin resistance‐related parameters was approximately two times greater in DCm than in D (p < .05). When the Cm and C were compared, it was found that all post‐intervention anthropometric measurements were similar, but the percentage of decrease in fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA‐IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment‐Insulin Resistance) values were greater in C (p < .05). In this study, it was concluded that CM consumption resulted with a decrease in insulin resistance‐related biochemical parameters independent of body weight change. Nevertheless, MNT has positive effects on women with insulin resistance, and adding lyophilized dried CM to MNT improves insulin resistance‐related parameters and may be beneficial for preventing the development of diabetes.