Whole cardamom powder,
does it really help with Improved glucose and lipids in overweight or obese women with prediabetes?
research showsThe grade is D with 32 points. In a double-blind trial of 80 women with prediabetes, 3 g/day cardamom powder for eight weeks did not significantly improve glucose, lipids, or blood pressure versus rusk-powder control. Within-cardamom reductions in total and LDL cholesterol cannot be converted into a between-group effect.
ads claimThe tested 3-g dose is factual, but it did not lower glucose or lipids versus control. Verdict 1196 is C with 50 points for curcumin extract and progression from prediabetes to diabetes; this verdict concerns whole cardamom powder and short-term laboratory markers.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- The intervention was 3 g/day powder from whole green cardamom, not an extract or essential oil.
- Using a USDA-derived value of about 2.2 g per teaspoon, 3 g is about 1.4 teaspoons, 0.46 tablespoon, or roughly 11 pinches if a pinch is defined as 1/8 teaspoon. A pinch is not standardized.
- Participants swallowed the powder in capsules, which does not reproduce flavor or cooking effects.
What the research actually shows
Eighty overweight or obese women with prediabetes were stratified by age and BMI and randomized 40 per group to whole green-cardamom powder or rusk powder, 3 g in capsules for two months. Sample size was based on triglycerides. The study ran from February to April 2014, whereas IRCT registration occurred on September 2, 2014. Tables reported all 80 randomized participants. Tehran University of Medical Sciences funded the work.
Why this is classified as D (32)
The direct trial was randomized, but all core between-group metabolic outcomes were null and the study was small and short, giving D with 32 points.
Counterpoint. D is not a precise exclusion of useful benefit; a larger prospectively registered trial could differ.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — Randomization, analyzed population, between-group tests, dose, blinding, sample-size basis, funding, and the IRCT registration date were checked against the original article
| Endpoint | S | Surrogate marker - laboratory or imaging measures |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I2 | Decisive evidence is publicly or non-profit funded |
| Effect size | E0 | Null |
| Precision | C0 | The confidence interval leaves room for benefit |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (D).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Improved fasting glucose | D | No significant difference from control was found. |
| Improved total and LDL cholesterol | D | Within-group decreases occurred without between-group superiority. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel trial | 40 | Tehran University of Medical Sciences, grant 93-01-161-25470 | Fasting glucose, insulin indices, blood pressure, and serum lipids | Some within-cardamom changes occurred, but all core between-group comparisons were nonsignificant | Direct whole-spice trial limited by small size, eight weeks, and retrospective registration |
Receipt — 1 References
All 1 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-08-03).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-03 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Whole cardamom powder x improved glucose and lipids in prediabetes — Evidence Grade D·32. 1 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/blood-sugar/whole-green-cardamom-powder-prediabetes-glucose-lipids/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.