modern wellness · Biomarker

Blood Glucose

Nutrients connected to Blood Glucose

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

Vitamin B3 (niacin)Documented risk
Too much niacin can raise blood glucose.
Alpha-lipoic acidDocumented risk
Fasting glucose was lower in one meta-analysis, but changes were small. Rare low blood sugar episodes from insulin autoimmune syndrome have been linked to it, so people on diabetes medicines should ask a clinician first.
CinnamonPreliminary or mixed
The same analysis found lower fasting blood sugar; species and form often unreported.
FenugreekPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and post-meal glucose were lower in a 2023 meta-analysis of 10 trials; study quality varied.
Bitter MelonPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose were lower in the 2024 review of 8 trials; Cochrane found no significant difference in older trials.
Black seedPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials in people with metabolic disease found lower fasting glucose (about 18.6 mg/dL). Quality varied; authors urge caution.
BarberryPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower in the 2024 meta-analysis in type 2 diabetes; no clear change in the 2020 analysis.
Asian ginsengPreliminary or mixed
A 2022 review found better fasting glucose in prediabetes or diabetes; evidence conflicting.
GymnemaPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose were lower than baseline in a meta-analysis and fasting glucose fell in a 3-month obesity trial; a risk of low blood sugar exists with diabetes drugs.
Maqui berryPreliminary or mixed
Lower after-meal (postprandial) glucose was seen consistently in acute studies.
Stinging nettlePreliminary or mixed
Fasting blood glucose was lower on average in a meta-analysis of 8 trials, with very variable results.
BerberinePreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose fell on average in pooled trials; alone, the fasting drop was small.
PsylliumPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell in pooled trials of people treated for type 2 diabetes.
MaitakeDocumented risk
MSK says maitake can lower blood sugar; people on diabetes medicines should check with a clinician.
Mulberry leafPreliminary or mixed
After-meal glucose was lower in several trials; fasting glucose did not change significantly in the 2022 review.
Coptis (goldthread)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting and 2-hour glucose fell on average in meta-analyses of berberine and Coptis prescriptions.
Goat's rueDocumented risk
The plant's guanidine compounds may cause low blood sugar (LactMed). No human trial measured this for the plant alone.
BibhitakiDocumented risk
Consumer references say bibhitaki might lower blood sugar, which matters with diabetes medicines. Lab and animal findings only for benefit.
CinnamonPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials report lower fasting glucose with supplements; results vary.
CuminPreliminary or mixed
Fasting blood sugar: no significant change in one review, lower in two others.
FenugreekPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and post-drink glucose were lower in the 2023 pooling; study quality varied.
Coriander seedPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell more with seed powder than placebo in one trial.
Guava leafPreliminary or mixed
Single-dose tea trials reported lower glucose after a rice meal; a 2026 meta-analysis of related Myrtaceae plants found a small fasting-glucose fall (low certainty) but did not mention guava.
Strawberries, Raspberries & BlackberriesPreliminary or mixed
Peak glucose after a test breakfast was lower with the largest amount of frozen red raspberries in one crossover trial of 32 adults with prediabetes.
MangoPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower with daily mango in two small trials; sugar content is also relevant.
LycheeDocumented risk
62% of 327 tested children in the outbreak had blood glucose of 70 mg/dL or less on admission.
DatesPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell in a pooled analysis with high heterogeneity but not in a randomized 12-week trial.
PomegranatePreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell by about 2.22 mg/dL in a 2024 meta-analysis (small effect).
SalaciaPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose fell in several small trials; one prediabetes trial showed no significant change on the glucose tolerance test.
Vijaysar (Indian kino)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose fell in the 1998 open trial; glucose stayed normal in healthy adults in a 2-month safety trial.
Jamun (Java plum seed)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell by a modest amount in pooled trials, with very high variation.
OkraPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell in several meta-analyses; certainty low to very low.
Nopales (Prickly Pear Pads)Preliminary or mixed
After-meal glucose was lower with steamed nopales in a 14-person study; effect on fasting glucose was not significant in a pooled analysis with other foods.
Dried fenugreek leaf (kasuri methi)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting and post-drink glucose were lower in the 2023 pooling; study quality varied. Based on seed studies, not dried leaf.
Gynostemma (Jiaogulan) TeaPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell more than on placebo tea in the prepared-tea trials.
Ginseng TeaDocumented risk
May lower blood glucose; monitor with diabetes medicines (NIH, MSK).
QuinoaPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower in the pooled analysis.
BuckwheatPreliminary or mixed
About 0.85 mmol/L lower than controls in a pooled analysis, with high differences between studies.
MilletPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose were lower in the pooled analysis.
SorghumPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose were lower in a pooled analysis with millets.
Whole-Wheat BreadPreliminary or mixed
Postprandial glucose excursion fell 27% with whole-wheat bread in the prediabetes trial.
LentilsPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials of pulses as a group found lower fasting glucose and insulin, with large differences between trials. In an 8-week lentil trial insulin resistance rose in the control group and fell with lentils; in a 12-week trial fasting glucose and HbA1c did not differ.
Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)Preliminary or mixed
Pooled trials of pulses as a group found lower fasting glucose and insulin, with large differences between trials. Chickpea-specific single-meal trials (12 and 28 studies) found a lower glucose response than potato or wheat, mostly in healthy adults, with low-certainty evidence.
Split PeasPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials of pulses as a group found lower fasting glucose and insulin, with large differences between trials. Bread with split pea flour did not significantly change glucose or insulin in 24 healthy adults.
Black-Eyed Peas (Cowpeas)Preliminary or mixed
Pooled trials of pulses as a group found lower fasting glucose and insulin, with large differences between trials. In one small trial of 11 healthy adults, cowpea varieties gave a lower blood sugar response than glucose.
Bean & Lentil PastaPreliminary or mixed
After-meal blood glucose was the outcome measured in the chickpea pasta study.
Black Seed Oil (Nigella)Preliminary or mixed
Lower fasting glucose on average in pooled trials of swallowed black seed.
ChromiumPreliminary or mixed
One review found lower fasting glucose with chromium in type 2 diabetes; another review of 10 trials found no significant difference.
TaurinePreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell by about 6 mg/dL in a 2026 meta-analysis, but a 2020 analysis found no effect. Mixed, from trials of mostly short duration.
Polyphenols: quercetin and resveratrolPreliminary or mixed
A 2017 meta-analysis of 9 trials found lower fasting glucose with resveratrol in type 2 diabetes; other reviews were neutral.
Prebiotic fibresPreliminary or mixed
Fasting plasma glucose fell slightly with resistant starch (about 0.09 mmol/L) in 19 trials.
GingerDocumented risk
Memorial Sloan Kettering says ginger may cause larger blood-sugar drops when taken with diabetes medicines; clinical relevance is not known.
Milk ThistlePreliminary or mixed
A small number of human studies, mostly from Middle Eastern countries, suggest milk thistle extracts may help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. It is unclear whether results apply elsewhere.
GarlicPreliminary or mixed
NCCIH says supplements may reduce blood sugar to a small extent in people with diabetes.
SchisandraPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose fell more than placebo in one trial of a schisandra-soybean mixture; not schisandra alone.
American ginsengPreliminary or mixed
Fasting blood glucose was lower than with placebo in the same small trial; MSK also notes blood glucose may fall.
Rhaponticum (maral root)Lab or animal research only
Blood glucose fell in diabetic mice given the extract. Human data were not found.
Holy basil (tulsi)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting and after-meal glucose were lower in one small trial in type 2 diabetes.
MoringaPreliminary or mixed
Some trials found lower fasting glucose with moringa leaf; the 2025 meta-analysis found no significant change. Memorial Sloan Kettering notes it may lower glucose readings.
AcaiDocumented risk
Early research suggests acai may raise or lower fasting blood glucose; evidence is preliminary.
BaobabPreliminary or mixed
One small trial in healthy adults found a lower rise in blood glucose after a glucose drink with a baobab fruit extract. Not tested in people with diabetes or with pulp powder.
Yerba matePreliminary or mixed
After-meal glucose fell in two prediabetes trials; fasting glucose did not change significantly in the pooled analysis.
FlaxseedPreliminary or mixed
A meta-analysis of 7 trials found lower fasting glucose in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes; MSK says data conflict.
HorehoundDocumented risk
A consumer reference warns of lowering blood sugar with diabetes medicines; the one human trial found almost no change in glucose from horehound alone.
CordycepsDocumented risk
Laboratory findings suggest additive blood-sugar lowering with diabetes medicines (MSK).
King oyster mushroomPreliminary or mixed
The meal study measured a lower post-meal glucose response (incremental area under the curve) with king oyster than with a control meal. This was a single meal in 19 adults and says nothing about fasting glucose over time.
Button, cremini and portobello mushroomPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose improved in one 8-week trial, but button and oyster mushrooms were eaten together and a systematic review found glucose control not improved overall.
Poria (fu ling)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was the outcome lowered in the meta-analysis of poria-containing formulas added to medicines.
Prickly pear (nopal)Preliminary or mixed
After-meal glucose was lower in small studies of nopal and juice; blood glucose should be monitored with diabetes medicines.
Graviola (soursop)Documented risk
Graviola lowered blood glucose in animals and may add to diabetes medicines; no human benefit shown.
PennyroyalDocumented risk
Low blood sugar appears in published poisoning cases (MSK).
Monk fruitPreliminary or mixed
FDA says high-intensity sweeteners generally will not raise blood sugar levels, and a 2025 review of 5 short trials reported smaller blood sugar rises after meals. It is not shown to treat diabetes.
Irvingia (African mango seed)Preliminary or mixed
Trials reported lower glucose; MSK calls the data limited and warns of added effect with diabetes medicines.
Cinchona barkDocumented risk
MedlinePlus lists low blood sugar as a possible effect of quinine.
Job's tears (coix seed)Documented risk
A consumer reference says Job's tears may lower blood sugar; a 12-week yogurt trial found no change in glycated albumin.
GingerDocumented risk
Memorial Sloan Kettering says ginger may cause larger blood-sugar drops when taken with diabetes medicines; clinical relevance is not known.
Cuscuta seed (tu si zi)Lab or animal research only
The review notes glucose lowering in diabetic rats and a possible additive effect with diabetes medicines.
Morinda root (ba ji tian)Documented risk
A consumer drug reference says the root may raise or lower blood sugar; monitoring is advised.
Caterpillar fungusDocumented risk
Possible additive lowering of blood glucose with diabetes medicines (MSK); relevance for people not known.
Bay leafPreliminary or mixed
In one 30-day trial of capsules (1 to 3 g of ground leaf a day), serum glucose fell 21 to 26% in adults with type 2 diabetes; the trial was small.
Black seed (nigella)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower on average in the 31-trial review of supplements.
King tuber mushroomLab or animal research only
Blood glucose fell in diabetic rabbits; no human data.
Celery seedPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower in the pooled analysis, with a borderline interval; insulin sensitivity did not change in one celery seed trial.
SumacPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower in the 2024 pooling (about 5 mg/dL); the 2021 pooling found no significant change.
SpirulinaPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell in a metabolic syndrome meta-analysis; a diabetes trial found no change.
YaconPreliminary or mixed
Post-meal glucose was lower in one crossover trial; fasting glucose unchanged in the long trial and in pooled analysis.
Papaya leafDocumented risk
Animal data suggest stronger blood-sugar lowering with metformin and glimepiride; no clinical studies.
Bitter leafPreliminary or mixed
A single decoction did not significantly change blood glucose in 27 people; a three-plant mixture lowered it slightly at two time points.
Citrus Fruits (overview)Preliminary or mixed
Orange juice trials found no change in glucose; hesperidin supplement results are mixed.
AvocadoPreliminary or mixed
In one crossover trial, after-meal blood sugar was lower when avocado replaced carbohydrate in a breakfast; one meal only.
JackfruitPreliminary or mixed
The same trial reported lower fasting and after-meal glucose with green jackfruit flour; the product was a flour, not ripe fruit.
RaisinsPreliminary or mixed
After-meal glucose was 23% lower with raisins than with processed snacks in one small trial.
Amchur (dried green mango powder)Preliminary or mixed
Reviewed trials of other mango forms report better glucose readings; not shown for amchur.
ChirataDocumented risk
Extracts lowered glucose in rats and mice. Whether this happens in people is not known; people using diabetes medicines should ask a pharmacist first.
Cissus quadrangularisDocumented risk
May lower blood sugar; a consumer reference warns of too-low readings with diabetes medicines. One trial also reported changes in fasting glucose.
PotatoesPreliminary or mixed
In one small trial, baked potato did not worsen glycemic measures versus white rice in adults with type 2 diabetes; cooking and meal context matter.
Lycium root bark (di gu pi)Lab or animal research only
Fasting glucose fell in diabetic mice given purified kukoamine B; not shown in people.
KimchiPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell in small trials of kimchi; results are preliminary.
Sesame seedPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose fell in one analysis and was borderline (p = 0.057) in another.
PistachiosPreliminary or mixed
Fasting blood sugar was lower by about 5.3 mg/dL in 8 trials (people at high cardiovascular risk) and by 3.7 in 11 trials, with very high heterogeneity.
ChestnutsPreliminary or mixed
Glucose area under the curve was 27% lower after chestnut flour bread in one 14-person trial.
FlaxseedPreliminary or mixed
Lower fasting glucose in a prediabetes and type 2 diabetes meta-analysis.
Pumpkin SeedsPreliminary or mixed
Glucose response after one meal was about 35% lower with pumpkin seed than with no seed; 15 people had glucose measured.
Red Raspberry Leaf TeaPreliminary or mixed
Blood glucose after sucrose was lower at 15 and 30 minutes when tea was taken with it in 22 healthy adults; no difference with glucose.
Yerba MatePreliminary or mixed
After-meal glucose fell in two prediabetes trials, but fasting glucose did not change significantly across trials.
Cinnamon TeaPreliminary or mixed
The tea trial measured post-meal capillary glucose; effect small.
Black Seed Oil (Nigella)Preliminary or mixed
Fasting blood sugar was lower on average with Nigella sativa supplements in a 2026 meta-analysis.
Mulberry Leaf TeaPreliminary or mixed
Blood glucose after rice was lower with the tea blend at 30 and 60 minutes in 30 adults with borderline diabetes.
OatsPreliminary or mixed
Fasting and 2-hour glucose fell slightly in a meta-analysis of five trials in type 2 diabetes.
BarleyPreliminary or mixed
Post-meal glucose lower at 30 to 120 minutes; fasting glucose unchanged.
Black BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pulses alone lowered fasting glucose in pooled trials, with large unexplained differences between trials.
Kidney BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pulses alone lowered fasting glucose in pooled trials, with large unexplained differences between trials.
Pinto BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pulses alone lowered fasting glucose in pooled trials, with large unexplained differences between trials.
Navy BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found lower fasting glucose with pulses.
White Beans (Cannellini & Great Northern)Preliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found lower fasting glucose with pulses.
Lima BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found lower fasting glucose with pulses.
Mung BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found lower fasting glucose with pulses.
Adzuki BeansPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found lower fasting glucose with pulses.
HummusPreliminary or mixed
Hummus alone raised blood glucose less than white bread in 10 healthy adults.
Canned Beans (Drained, Rinsed)Preliminary or mixed
Pulses lowered fasting glucose in pooled trials, with high variation.
CarobPreliminary or mixed
Glucose response was lower with carob syrups in small trials.
Chickpea Flour (Besan)Preliminary or mixed
Glucose iAUC was lower after chickpea meals in a meta-analysis (very low certainty).
Idli & DosaPreliminary or mixed
Blood glucose after eating traditional rice idli may rise quickly (high glycemic index in one study).
Walnut & Other Nut OilsPreliminary or mixed
Fasting blood sugar fell in the same trial.
Cocoa & Hot ChocolatePreliminary or mixed
Lower fasting glucose in a 2024 meta-analysis of cocoa extract or dark chocolate trials.
Pomegranate JuicePreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose about 2 mg/dL lower in the same analysis.
Alcohol-Free Beer & WinePreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose rose with mixed non-alcoholic beer in a 4-week study.
Withania Coagulans (Indian Cheesemaker)Preliminary or mixed
A small crossover trial reported lower after-meal blood sugar with a recipe containing the plant plus fenugreek; the plant's own effect is unknown.
Goji BerryPreliminary or mixed
Fasting glucose was lower in a meta-analysis of 7 trials.
Sea Grapes (Umibudo)Preliminary or mixed
Blood glucose after eating noodles with sea grape powder was lower than the control in 10 healthy volunteers.
FucoidanLab or animal research only
Rodent meta-analysis only.
HoneyPreliminary or mixed
One meta-analysis found slightly lower fasting glucose (low certainty); an umbrella review found a possible adverse effect on fasting glucose at 10 g a day.
Clover HoneyPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials: small fall in fasting glucose (low certainty); subgroup named clover.
PropolisPreliminary or mixed
Fasting blood sugar was lower with propolis in two meta-analyses.
Joint Formulas (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Turmeric)Documented risk
Fasting glucose was changed in some glucosamine studies and not in others.

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