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RCT·endocrinology, clinical trial, nutrition, internal medicine, gastroenterology·PMC10426908

Kombucha tea as an anti-hyperglycemic agent in humans with diabetes – a randomized controlled pilot investigation

Frontiers in Nutrition · 10 authors, 6 centres

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In a randomized controlled pilot study, adults with type II diabetes who consumed kombucha for 4 weeks showed a statistically significant reduction in average fasting blood glucose levels compared to baseline, while those consuming a placebo did not.

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This was a prospective randomized double-blinded crossover pilot study at a single-center urban hospital system involving 12 adults with type II diabetes mellitus. Participants consumed either kombucha or a placebo for 4 weeks, separated by an 8-week washout period. Kombucha consumption significantly lowered average fasting blood glucose at 4 weeks compared to baseline (164 vs. A subgroup analysis of participants with elevated baseline glucose (>130 mg/dL, n=5) showed a significant decrease with kombucha versus placebo (p = 0.0013). Secondary health outcomes were not statistically analyzed due to small sample sizes and skewed reporting.

STUDY TYPE

RCT

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endocrinology

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AI pipeline

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10426908

Kombucha tea as an anti-hyperglycemic agent in humans with diabetes – a randomized controlled pilot investigation

Frontiers in Nutrition

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Introduction Kombucha is a popular fermented tea that has attracted considerable attention due, in part, to its suggested health benefits. Previous results from animal models led us to hypothesize kombucha may reduce blood sugar levels in humans with diabetes. The objective of this pilot clinical study was to evaluate kombucha for its anti-hyperglycemic activities in adults with diabetes mellitus type II. Methods The study was organized as a prospective randomized double-blinded crossover study at a single-center urban hospital system. Participants ( n = 12) were instructed to consume either a kombucha product or a placebo control (each 240 mL) for 4 weeks. After an 8-week washout period, participants consumed the alternate product. Fasting blood glucose levels were self-determined at baseline and at 1 and 4 weeks during each treatment period. Secondary health outcomes, including overall health, insulin requirement, gut health, skin health, mental health, and vulvovaginal health were measured by questionnaire at the same time points. The kombucha microbiota was assessed by selective culturing and 16S rRNA gene (bacteria) and ITS (fungi) sequencing. Fermentation end products were assessed by HPLC. Statistical significance of changes in fasting blood glucose was determined using paired, two-tailed student’s t -tests. Results Kombucha lowered average fasting blood glucose levels at 4 weeks compared to baseline (164 vs. 116 mg/dL, p = 0.035), whereas the placebo did not (162 vs. 141 mg/dL, p = 0.078). The kombucha microbiota, as assessed by cultural enumeration, was mainly comprised of lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and yeast, with each group present at about 10 6 colony forming units (CFU)/mL. Likewise, 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed that lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria were the most abundant bacteria, and ITS sequencing showed Dekkera was the most abundant yeast. The primary fermentation end products were lactic and acetic acids, both less than 1%. Ethanol was present at 1.5%. Discussion Although this pilot study was limited by a small sample size, kombucha was associated with reduced blood glucose levels in humans with diabetes. Larger follow-up studies are warranted. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT04107207 . Keywords: kombucha, microorganisms, diabetes mellitus, human subjects, clinical trial

CITATION EXPORT

Chagai Mendelson, Sabrina Sparkes, Daniel J Merenstein et al.. Kombucha tea as an anti-hyperglycemic agent in humans with diabetes – a randomized controlled pilot investigation. Frontiers in Nutrition. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1190248

AUTHORS

10 · 6 CENTRES

Chagai Mendelson, Sabrina Sparkes, Daniel J Merenstein, Chloe Christensen, Varun Sharma, Sameer Desale, Jennifer M Auchtung, Car Reen Kok, Heather E Hallen-Adams, Robert Hutkins

1Department of Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
2Department of Human Science, Georgetown University School of Health, Washington, DC, United States
3Department of Family Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
4Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
5Division of General Internal Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
6MedStar Health, Washington, DC, United States