Research in Medicine

Introduction: Diabetes causes hypertension in most diabetic patients. Hypertension accelerates cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.  Barberry juice is known to have polyphenol and antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of barberry juice consumption on blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.

 Materials and Methods: In a randomized clinical trial study, 42 diabetic patients (55.4±7.6) were randomly allocated to either barberry juice consumption (n=21) or the control group (n=21). Patients in the barberry juice group consumed 200 ml of barberry juice daily for eight weeks; no treatment was done on the control group. The questionnaires for general characteristics, and three–day 24h food recall were completed by interview. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were conducted at baseline and at the end of the study.

Result: Two groups were equal in sex and age at baseline. The mean body mass index, nutrients and drug intake and physical activity of patients did not change during the study. In the barberry juice consumption group, the mean systolic blood pressure (p<0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.03) were significantly decreased compared with baseline. The mean systolic blood pressure (p<0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.003) were significantly different between the barberry and control groups after intervention.

Conclusion: Considering this study barberry juice may improve hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes..