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Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Bitter Cucumber

Bitter cucumber is a bitter-tasting, gourd-family plant whose fruit has long been used in traditional herbal medicine rather than as a nutrient the body needs. The best-supported finding was that blood glucose improved in a small study of 50 people with high cholesterol, though the evidence is limited. Other work found no clear difference in HDL cholesterol or blood pressure, and that evidence is very limited.

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
4
Outcomes
37
Graded outcomes
0032

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

4 conditions

High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol: outcomes studied for Bitter Cucumber
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect50 people
Blood Pressure

No effect

NoneNo effect50 people
Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies1 study50 people

Studies that measured liver enzymes

TriglyceridesChanges; see studies1 study50 people

Studies that measured triglycerides

HbA1cChanges; see studies50 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)50 people
Kidney FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)50 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Changes; see studies50 people
Total cholesterolChanges; see studies50 people
UreaImproves (the measure goes up)50 people
WeightChanges; see studies50 people

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes: outcomes studied for Bitter Cucumber
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect50 people
Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies1 study50 people

Studies that measured liver enzymes

TriglyceridesChanges; see studies1 study50 people

Studies that measured triglycerides

Blood PressureChanges; see studies50 people
HbA1cChanges; see studies50 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)50 people
Kidney FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)50 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Changes; see studies50 people
Total cholesterolChanges; see studies50 people
UreaImproves (the measure goes up)50 people
WeightChanges; see studies50 people

General Liver Health

  • Blood glucose: improves
  • Liver Enzymes: changes; see studies
  • Triglycerides: changes; see studies
General Liver Health: outcomes studied for Bitter Cucumber
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect50 people
Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies1 study50 people

Studies that measured liver enzymes

TriglyceridesChanges; see studies1 study50 people

Studies that measured triglycerides

HbA1cChanges; see studies50 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)50 people
Kidney FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)50 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Changes; see studies50 people
Total cholesterolChanges; see studies50 people
UreaImproves (the measure goes up)50 people
WeightChanges; see studies50 people

Dyslipidemia

  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
  • Liver Enzymes: changes; see studies
  • Triglycerides: changes; see studies
Dyslipidemia: outcomes studied for Bitter Cucumber
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

No effect

NoneNo effect100 people
Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies1 study100 people

Studies that measured liver enzymes

TriglyceridesChanges; see studies1 study100 people

Studies that measured triglycerides

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Changes; see studies100 people
Total cholesterolChanges; see studies100 people

Key findings

  • Blood glucoseHigh CholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Blood PressureHigh Cholesterol
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Dyslipidemia

Shop Bitter Cucumber

Third-party tested Bitter Cucumber products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade C

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Studies cited

2 studies from PubMed

  1. The clinical investigation of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) schrad fruit in treatment of Type II diabetic patients: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialPhytother Res · PMID 19170143
  2. The hypolipidemic effect of Citrullus colocynthis on patients with hyperlipidemiaPak J Biol Sci · PMID 21313901