Functional Foods in Clinical Trials in the Intervention of Diabetes Complications

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes and related complications has increased in the past decades. Despite the availability of medications to treat diabetes and its complications, due to their side effects and inefficacy for some patients, alternative remedies have become increasingly popular. Functional foods are gaining worldwide interest and existing evidence suggests that a functional food-based diet could be a novel dietary approach for the prevention and management of diabetes complications. However, validation of their efficacy through clinical trials would be more acceptable to both patients and health care providers. In this chapter, the conventional or modified foods that have gained popularity as functional foods for the management of diabetes complications and have made it into clinical trials are highlighted. The challenges in clinical trials and future perspectives of functional foods as safe efficacious alternatives or adjuvants in disease management are also discussed.