Table 2 Stratified meta-analyses of the effects of fenugreek on fasting blood glucose and 2 hour postload glucose according to trial and participant characteristics

Overall

11

-0.96 (-1.52, -0.40)

80 (65, 89)

<0.001

8

-2.19 (-3.19, -1.19)

71 (40, 86)

0.001

Study design

  Parallel

5

-0.78 (-1.93, 0.37)

86 (69, 94)

<0.001

0.48

4

-1.71 (-2.73, -0.70)

59 (0, 86)

0.07

0.33

  Crossover

6

-1.20 (-2.03, -0.38)

77 (49, 90)

0.01

4

-3.32 (-5.90, -0.75)

82 (54, 93)

0.001

Region

  India

7

-1.43 (-2.26, -0.60)

48 (0, 78)

0.07

0.21

6

-2.60 (-4.06, -1.13)

73 (39, 88)

0.002

0.50

  Others

4

-0.55 (-1.25, 0.16)

89 (75, 95)

<0.001

2

-1.59 (-3.08, -0.10)

74 (0, 94)

Study precision^a

  Below median

5

-0.54 (-1.15, 0.07)

86 (69, 94)

<0.001

0.10

4

-1.55 (-2.52, -0.57)

67 (2, 89)

0.03

0.11

  Above median

6

-1.68 (-2.62, -0.74)

43 (0, 77)

0.12

4

-3.42 (-5.56, -1.28)

67 (4, 89)

0.03

Study population^b

  Healthy

2

0.05 (-0.51, 0.61)

82 (23, 96)

0.02

-

-

-

-

  T1DM

1

-4.20 (-6.73, -1.67)

-

-

0.01

1

-3.20 (-6.92, 0.52)

-

-

0.79

  T2DM

8

-1.21 (-1.69, -0.73)

26 (0, 67)

0.22

7

-2.14 (-3.19, -1.09)

74 (45, 88)

0.001

Randomization

  Yes

9

-0.94 (-1.56, -0.32)

83 (69, 91)

<0.001

0.83

6

-2.54 (-3.87, -1.21)

73 (37, 88)

0.003

0.49

  Unknown

2

-1.11 (-2.10, -0.12)

0 (0, 100)

0.49

2

-1.58 (-3.61, 0.45)

81 (17, 95)

0.02

Blinding status

  Double-blinded

4

-0.44 (-1.22, 0.34)

88 (72, 95)

<0.001

0.15

2

-1.95 (-3.02, -0.88)

16 (0, 55)

0.28

0.74

  Unknown

7

-1.37 (-2.08, -0.67)

47 (0, 78)

0.08

6

-2.43 (-3.82, -1.04)

78 (50, 90)

0.000

Daily dose (grams)^b

  <5

3

0.02 (-0.46, 0.50)

63 (0, 89)

0.07

1

-1.34 (-2.83, 0.14)

-

-

  5-10

4

-1.27 (-1.80, -0.74)

21 (0, 88)

0.28

0.01

4

-1.55 (-2.52, -0.57)

67 (2, 89)

0.04

0.02

  >10

4

-2.07 (-3.58, -0.55)

68 (9, 89)

0.02

3

-4.42 (-5.96, -2.89)

8 (0, 35)

0.58

Preparation^b

  Powdered seed

5

-1.12 (-1.63, -0.61)

29 (0, 72)

0.23

4

-1.55 (-2.52, -0.57)

67 (2, 89)

0.03

  Hydro-alcoholic extract

3

0.02 (-0.46, 0.50)

63 (0, 89)

0.07

0.002

1

-1.34 (-2.83, 0.14)

-

-

0.05

  Debitterized seed powder

3

-2.68 (-3.82, -1.54)

0 (0, 90)

0.42

3

-4.42 (-5.96, -2.89)

0 (0, 90)

0.58

Study duration (days)

  <30

5

-1.48 (-2.64, -0.32)

80 (52, 91)

0.001

0.39

3

-4.42 (-5.96, -2.89)

8 (0, 35)

0.58

0.02

  > = 30

6

-0.78 (-1.68, 0.11)

83 (65, 92)

<0.001

5

-1.49 (-2.28, -0.70)

55 (0, 84)

0.06

Mean Age (years)

  <43.1

4

-0.73 (-1.61, 0.16)

86 (67, 94)

<0.001

2

-4.14 (-5.80, -2.47)

0 (0, 100)

0.58

  > = 43.1

5

-1.11 (-1.76, -0.47)

45 (0, 80)

0.12

0.60

4

-1.90 (-3.19, -0.61)

67 (4, 89)

0.03

0.21

Mean BMI (kg/m²)

  <25

3

-1.62 (-3.21, -0.02)

93 (82, 97)

<0.001

0.29

2

-2.52 (-3.75, -1.30)

0 (0, 100)

0.71

0.17

  > = 25

3

-0.19 (-1.14, 0.76)

74 (12, 92)

0.02

2

-1.01 (-1.72, -0.30)

0 (0, 100)

0.62