Resveratrol promotes foot ulcer size reduction in type 2 diabetes patients

Abstract

Objective. The effect of a proprietary formulation of trans-resveratrol (t-RSV) on manifestations of diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) was studied in type 2 diabetic patients with newly diagnosed diabetic foot ulcers. Method. Placebo-controlled, examiner-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled pilot clinical trial (ACTRN Clinical Trial Registry number 12610000629033) involving 24 patients with DFS (15 males and 9 females, average age of 56.4 ± 9.1 years) divided into the placebo and RSV-treatment groups was performed. 50 mg of t-RSV or placebo capsules was given to each patient twice a day over a 60-day time period. Results. Reduction in the parameters reflecting diabetic ulcer size was more profound in the RSV group as compared to placebo. RSV-treated patients also had a marginally improved performance in the foot pressure test. A statistically significant decline in the plasma fibrinogen level, but not CRP, was also found in the RSV-treated patients. Some improvement in the plasma lipid profile and fasting glucose levels were not related to RSV-treatment, since they have been seen on both the RSV and placebo groups, revealing the effectiveness of medical supervision and education in the newly diagnosed patients with DFS. Conclusion. t-RSV supplementation promotes reduction of the foot ulcer size and reduces plasma fibrinogen level in type 2 diabetic patients.

Figure 1

(a) Cumulative ulcer size of 10 patients in placebo and 14 patients in resveratrol groups over study period. Plots show ulcer size of each patient (solid lines) and mean ulcer size (interrupted bold line) in the study period over 60 days. (b) Ulcer size at baseline and after 30 and 60 days of treatment (P values from Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests).

Figure 2

Ulcer images before and after 60-day resveratrol or placebo treatment.