Nigella sativa as a cardioprotective agent in pediatric type 1 diabetes

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Created On: 24/07/2025

Nigella sativa, a medicinal plant known for its broad range of therapeutic properties, has attracted interest for its potential cardiovascular benefits.

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Key take away

Nigella sativa markedly improves subclinical left ventricular function and reduces cholesterol, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers in pediatrics with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background

Nigella sativa, a medicinal plant known for its broad range of therapeutic properties, has attracted interest for its potential cardiovascular benefits. This randomized controlled study explored its cardioprotective effects in kids and adolescents suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Method

A total of 60 volunteers with T1DM were randomly assigned to two groups:

Group I (n = 30): Received Nigella sativa seed oil (450 mg) twice daily after meals, alongside their regular insulin therapy for 3 months.
Group II (n = 30): Continued with insulin therapy alone.

Echocardiographic assessments were carried out before and after the intervention. Additionally, lipid profile, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and troponin I levels were monitored at both time points.

Result

Following 3 months of treatment, Group I showed remarkable reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, TNF-α, TGF-β, and troponin I when compared to both their baseline values and those in Group II. Moreover, improvements in cardiac function were witnessed, with significant increases in the left ventricular early diastolic (E′) to late diastolic (A′) myocardial velocity ratio (E'/A' ratio) and two-dimensional left ventricular global longitudinal strain (2D-LV GLS) in Group I post-treatment.

Conclusion

Nigella sativa appears to offer a protective effect on the heart by improving early signs of left ventricular dysfunction in pediatric patients suffering from T1DM.