Glyburide is a permeability glycoprotein inhibitor, and is often prescribed to people with type two diabetes. A randomized, open label trial was published in Phytotherapy Research (2014 Dec;28(12):1796-800. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5201); it looked at the effect a combination of glyburide and curcumin had on blood sugar levels and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetics.
An open-label trial or open trial is a type of clinical trial in which both the researchers and participants know which treatment is being administered. This differs from single-blind studies (where participants are not aware of the treatment) and double-blind (where both participants and researchers are not aware of the treatment). Open-label trials may be appropriate for comparing two very similar treatments to determine which is most effective. An open-label trial may be unavoidable under some circumstances, such as comparing the effectiveness of a medication to intensive physical therapy sessions.
On the first day of the study, patients were given 5 mg of glyburide, and blood samples were taken. Curcumin was given to the patients for 10 days and blood tests were taken again on the 11th day of the study. Blood glucose levels were decreased, and no one became hypoglycemic. The low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides were decreased significantly, and the high-density lipoprotein content increased. The authors concluded, ” The co-administration of curcumin capsules with glyburide may be beneficial to the patients in better glycaemic control. The lipid lowering and antidiabetic properties of the curcumin show as a potential future drug “
