Combined Bitter Melon Extract and Snakehead Fish Powder Supplementation for Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a major global health problem due to its high prevalence, long-term complications, and substantial economic burden. Conventional antidiabetic therapies, including insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents, may cause significant side effects during long-term use and are contraindicated in certain clinical conditions. Therefore, safe and effective herbal-based alternatives are needed. Previous preclinical and early clinical studies have shown that bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) and snakehead fish (Channa striata) possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties, including improvement in glucose regulation, stimulation of insulin secretion, and regeneration of pancreatic cells. However, clinical evidence on their combined use remains limited. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of daily supplementation with a combination of bitter melon extract and snakehead fish powder on glycemic status in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ninety eligible participants will be randomly assigned to a treatment group receiving 500 mg/day of the herbal combination or a placebo for 4 weeks. Glycemic status will be assessed primarily through glycated albumin (GA) levels. The findings of this study are expected to provide scientific evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of this herbal combination as a complementary antidiabetic therapy.

NCT Number	NCT07302178
Lead Sponsor	Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta
Conditions	Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), Hyperglycemia
Enrollment	80 participants
Start Date	2026-01-01
Primary Completion	2026-02-28 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-06-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-12-24