The effect of 8 weeks of combined exercises with supplemental consumption of mulberry leaf extract on the serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21, glucose and insulin in elderly men with type 2 diabetes

Fibroblast growth factor 21 is proposed as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was the effect of 8 weeks of combined exercises along with the consuming of mulberry leaf extract on the serum levels of glucose, insulin and fibroblast growth factor 21, in elderly men with type 2 diabetes.

In this semi-experimental study, 40 elderly people (age: 67.07 ± 1.50) living in Ardabil province with type 2 diabetes after obtaining written consent were randomly divided into five control groups (8 people) and a placebo group (8 people). The extract group (8 people), the training group (8 people) and the extract + training group (8 people) were divided. The exercises were performed in three sessions for eight weeks. 3000 mg of blackberry leaf extract was prescribed daily. Glucose, insulin and FGF21 values were measured before the intervention and 48 hours after the last training session. Paired t-test and analysis of covariance were used at a significance level of P < 0.05.

A significant decrease in blood glucose levels (161.22 ± 4.91), insulin (9.91 ± 0.80) and a significant increase in FGF21 levels (66.61 ± 7.06) were observed in the training + extract group (P < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the levels of glucose (P = 0.001), insulin (P = 0.003) and FGF21 (P = 0.001) between the groups, and these changes were greater in the extract + exercise group than the training and extract groups.

Combined exercises along with the consuming of Mulberry leaf extract can improve blood glucose, insulin and FGF21 in the elderly with type 2 diabetes.