Hypoglycemic and Hypocholesterolemic Potential of Wheat Grass Juice Extract and Powder on Diabetics

The study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic potential of wheat grass juice, extract and powder on diabetics. Two hundred male employees (35-50 y) of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) from Usilampatti, a town in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu were selected for the study. After screening, 60 employees whose fasting blood glucose level was ≥ 145mg/dl and not taking oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin were considered for the study. Fifty grams of fresh wheat grass, made into a fine paste using a stone grinder was mixed in 100ml of water. Two to three drops of lemon juice was added to enhance the flavour and palatability of the juice. Wheat grass extract obtained was then squeezed and the fiber separated. Fresh wheat grass was harvested and shade dried for 2-3 days. It was then made into fine powder with a stone grinder. Five grams of wheat grass powder was added in 100ml of water and mixed thoroughly. The selected diabetic employees (60) were divided into three experimental groups and one control group of 15 members each. Experimental group I was supplemented with 100ml of wheat grass juice, group II was supplemented with 100ml of wheat grass extract and group III was supplemented with 5g of wheat grass powder mixed in 100ml of water and for a period of four months. No supplementation was given to control group. Anthropometric parameters like height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist / hip ratio, skin fold thickness and biochemical parameters namely fasting blood glucose level, post prandial blood glucose level, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, HDL, HbA₁C and blood pressure were measured before and after supplementation. Group II supplemented with wheat grass extract showed a slight difference in weight when compared to groups I and III. The mean skin fold thickness of all the three groups decreased after supplementation. The mean initial blood glucose level of the experimental groups (I, II and III) and control group were above the normal range . The mean decrease of fasting blood glucose level in experimental group I, II, III and control group were 37.4, 32.9, 27.6 and 1.4 mg /dl respectively. The mean decrease of post prandial blood glucose level in experimental groups I, II, III and control group were 63, 60.3, 39 and 1.8 mg/dl respectively. High fibre supplement lowered total cholesterol by about 19.2 % and reduced LDL cholesterol by 13.2 % with maximum reduction in groups II and III. HDL cholesterol level was highly increased in experimental group II. The decrease in HbA₁C level was higher in experimental group I (2.5%) and blood pressure was highly decreased in experimental group I compared to other experimental groups and control group.