Written by Tabish Mehraj, PhD, Science Writer. In this parallel randomized controlled trial, 64 children aged 12–18 years with obesity were randomly assigned to receive either nettle syrup twice daily, plus a prescribed diet, or diet alone for 12 weeks. Demographic, metabolic, and lipid parameters were assessed and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v24.0 (P < 0.05). Most participants in both groups were girls. After eight weeks, significant intergroup differences were observed in fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P = 0.043), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (P = 0.023), and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance HOMA-IR (P = 0.025). At week 12, FBS remained significantly higher in the intervention group (P = 0.044) but stayed within the normal range.

Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern and is associated with various metabolic disorders, which include dyslipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance is a metabolic disorder in which target tissues, which include the liver, muscles, and adipose tissue, show a decreased responsiveness to insulin despite higher or normal circulating levels. This weakened response unsettles glucose metabolism leading to hyperinsulinemia, which can eventually give rise to diabetes and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. With the growing menace of obesity among adults and children, it’s of utmost importance to identify effective and safe strategies for the improvement of metabolic health. For the management of metabolic disorders, herbal therapies have gained popularity as complementary approaches. One among them is Urtica dioica (nettle) which is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat urinary tract disorders, diabetes, inflammation and allergies. There are substantial experimental and adult clinical studies that suggest that nettle may enhance glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, although evidence concerning its effects in obese pediatric populations remains inadequate.

The present study aimed to assess the effects of nettle extract on metabolic parameters and insulin resistance in obese adolescents and children. A parallel randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at the endocrinology clinic of 17 Shahrivar Hospital in Rasht, Iran. The study included children aged 12–18 years diagnosed with being overweight or obese according to age- and sex-specific body mass index percentiles. At the beginning, 89 participants were screened for eligibility, and 70 were randomized into two equal groups. After accounting for withdrawals, 32 participants remained in each group for analysis. Those in the intervention group received a prescribed dietary regimen with the nettle syrup and the control group received the diet alone. The nettle syrup was taken at a dose of 5 mL twice daily for 12 weeks. The diet was planned by a nutritionist and contained 30% fat, 55% carbohydrates, and 15% protein. The groups were recommended to exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes per week. The structured checklist of data collected consisted of anthropometric, demographic and biochemical parameters. Lipid profile and insulin resistance using Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was assessed and the measurements were performed at baseline, after 8 and 12 weeks of intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 24, employing independent and paired sample t-tests, repeated measures analysis, with a significance level set at P < 0.05.

Significant Findings/ Results

• Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups, with no significant differences in age or sex; most participants were female, and most of them used dietary supplements (e.g., vitamin D, omega-3, vitamin E, iron) (P >0.05).
• In the control group, 19 participants (63.3%) had no underlying conditions such as pseudo hypoparathyroidism and certain syndromes which lead to obesity i.e.: Prader-Willi, Turner syndrome, Cushing, etc. as compared to 15 participants (48.4%) in the intervention group, with no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05).
• The control group showed no significant changes in fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, weight, fasting insulin, or HOMA-IR throughout the study (p > 0.05).
• In the intervention group, significant reductions were observed in LDL cholesterol (88.19 ± 19.51mg/dl; p=0.003), total cholesterol (158.47 ± 22.37 mg/dl), and HOMA-IR (4.14 ± 3.18) over time.
• Between-group comparisons showed significant differences at 8 weeks in fasting blood glucose (18.15 ± 13.10; p=0.043).

The findings suggest that nettle extract could be a beneficial resource for lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity in obese children. Nettle contains bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins, saponins, and phenolic compounds that could enhance insulin sensitivity and improve glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. These compounds help in reducing the total cholesterol and LDL levels. Moreover, many experiments suggest that nettle may influence glucose metabolism by promoting glucose transporter (GLUT4) translocation, or inhibiting carbohydrate digestion enzymes, stimulating pancreatic β-cell activity.

One of the major strengths of this study is its randomized controlled design. Furthermore, the study particularly targeted the pediatric population, which addressed a gap in literature since most of the previous reports on nettle extract focused on animal models or adults. The inclusion of multiple metabolic parameters, including HOMA-IR and lipid profile, delivered a complete evaluation of metabolic changes associated with the intervention. The 12-week follow-up period also allowed for observation of both short- and intermediate-term effects of nettle supplementation.

Despite several strengths of the report, the study has several limitations. Firstly, the limited sample size may constraint the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the trial was only single-blind because the distinctive smell and taste of nettle prevented the preparation of a placebo, mostly introducing bias. Third, observance to diet, physical activity and medication could not be fully controlled, particularly because participants were children and adolescents with variable lifestyles and school-related stress. Furthermore, variations in caloric intake, exercise habits, and other behavioral factors could have influenced metabolic outcomes.

Overall, the study suggests that nettle extract supplementation could improve the metabolic health of obese children, specifically total cholesterol and insulin resistance. The intervention seemed to be well tolerated and safe with no adverse effects reported. However, larger multicenter randomized trials with longer follow-up interventions are required to confirm these outcomes and further evaluate the therapeutic potential of nettle extract in metabolic disorders and pediatric obesity.

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Posted March 31, 2026.

Dr. Tabish Mehraj is a pharmaceutical scientist with expertise in pharmaceutics, drug delivery, and formulation development. She earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mississippi, where her research focused on the formulation, optimization, and characterization of lipid-based nanocarriers for targeted liver delivery of antimalarial therapeutics. Dr. Mehraj has also served as an ORISE Fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she evaluated the effects of formulation and process design on the quality and performance of intravaginal drug delivery systems and developed bio-relevant in vitro drug release testing methods. She has teaching experience in pharmaceutical and life sciences courses and has authored peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference presentations. Dr. Mehraj is an active member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and has been recognized by honor societies including Rho Chi and Gamma Beta Phi.

References:

1.Dalili, S., Koohmanaee, S., Rad, A. H., Khalatbari, Z., Bayat, R., & Shahrokhi, M. (2023). Can Nettle Extract Affect Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Parameters in Obese Children? A Paralleled-Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Comprehensive Pediatrics, 14(14), e139452.