Oleoylethanolamide supplementation may halt progression of prediabetes to diabetes

Iran: Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) supplementation can be used for controlling pre-diabetes status, a recent study in the journal Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome has concluded. As, OEA supplementation was shown to improve insulin resistance (IR), the glycemic status, and reduce inflammation in prediabetics.

"The results provide evidence that the introduction of this fatty acid plays an important role in helping pre-diabetes status and preventing the shift to type 2 diabetes," Hossein Khadem Haghighian, Department of Nutrition, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran, and colleagues wrote in their study. "Further studies are however required to provide additional and convincing evidence."

Previous studies have shown the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoids. The double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with the objective to assess the effect of oleoylethanolamide supplementation on glycemic status, insulin resistance (IR), and inflammatory factors in pre-diabetic individuals. 

The trial was performed at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. In the study, 46 pre-diabetic patients were divided into two equal groups and received one 125 mg OEA capsule in the intervention group (23 subjects) and a 125 mg capsule containing wheat flour in the placebo group daily for 8 weeks. 

Demographic information was collected at the beginning and end of the study. Following this, the questionnaires on physical activity, and 24-hour food recall were completed and blood glucose (BG), plasma insulin level, IR, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Statistical analysis was also performed using SPSS software.