Date seed (phoenix dactylifera) supplementation modulates oxidative DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and cardiometabolic risk factors in type 2 diabetes: A triple-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial

We examined if the supplementation of date seed powder (DSP) could improve inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiometabolic status in diabetic patients. Forty three patients, aged 30–50 y, were randomized to receive either 5 g/d maltodextrin (i.e., placebo) or 5 g/d DSP (i.e. intervention) for eight weeks. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c and HDL-c), the Castelli I Index (i.e., TC/HDL-c ratio), and Atherogenic index [Log (TG/HDL-c)], lipopolysaccharide (LPS), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), oxidative stress index (OSI), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), oxidized-LDL-c (ox-LDL-c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured at the baseline and end of the study. We used independent t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for between-group comparisons at the baseline and the post-intervention phase, respectively. Between-group comparisons showed that supplementation with DSP significantly decreased HbA1c (−0.30%, p = 0.002), TC (−16.18 mg/dL, p = 0.001), TG (−21.27 mg/dL, p = 0.001), LDL-c (−13.41 mg/dL, p = 0.007), TC/HDL-c (−0.52, p = 0.001), LDL-c/HDL-c (−0.38, p = 0.003), Log (TG/HDL) (−0.06, p = 0.001), LPS (−3.67 EU/mL, p = 0.001), TNF-α (−3.69 ng/mL, p = 0.001), OSI (−5.01, p = 0.001), MDA (−0.25 nmol/mL, p = 0.010), 8-OHDG (−1.58 pg/mL, p = 0.002), and ox-LDL-c (−7.48 UL−1, p = 0.001). On the other hand, DSP supplementation significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (0.50 mmol/L, p = 0.001) compared to the placebo group. The two groups, however, were comparable regarding changes in FPG, HDL-c, VLDL-c, hs-CRP, and TOS. Overall, DSP seems to be an effective functional food for improving oxidative stress and cardiometabolic risk factors in diabetic patients. (Registration ID at https://www.irct.ir: IRCT20150205020965N10)