Opium use and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Background

For many years, people and even some doctors believed that opium has beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The effect of opium as a stimulator or inhibitor on the metabolic regulation system is challenging.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between opium and type 2 diabetes by meta-analysis.

Methods

The present study was conducted based on the PRISMA checklist for systematic review and meta-analysis studies. Two researchers independently searched for standard keywords from international databases, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Embase, and Web of Science without any time limits until 2019. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used for quality assessment of included studies. Data were analyzed using the random-effects model and CMA software.

Results

Twenty-four studies met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results revealed no significant negative relationship between increased opium intake and decreased fasting blood sugar (P= ns). There was a statistically significant positive relationship between opium consumption and HbA1C increase in patients with type 2 diabetes (P< .05).

Conclusion

Unlike past beliefs, opium consumption not only reduces fasting blood sugar but on the contrary, consumption of opium increases the level of glycosylated hemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes.

KEYWORDS:

• Opium
• diabetes mellitus
• meta-analysis
• systematic review
• glycated hemoglobin A

Acknowledgments

This study is the result of a research project No. 98-01-42-20449 Approved by the School of Public Health, in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The university is with an appreciation for its financial support. Also, all researchers and authors of the articles used in this study are thanked and appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially approved by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran [Grant Number: 98-01-42-20449.]