Caloric restriction favorably impacts metabolic and immune/inflammatory profiles in obese mice but curcumin/piperine consumption adds no further benefit

Abstract

BackgroundObesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and impaired immune response. Caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to inhibit inflammatory response and enhance cell-mediated immune function. Curcumin, the bioactive phenolic component of turmeric spice, is proposed to have anti-obesity and anti-inflammation properties while piperine, another bioactive phenolic compound present in pepper spice, can enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of curcumin. This study sought to determine if curcumin could potentiate CR’s beneficial effect on immune and inflammatory responses in obesity developed in mice by feeding high-fat diet (HFD).MethodsMice were fed a HFD for 22 wk and then randomized into 5 groups: one group remained on HFD ad libitum and the remaining 4 groups were fed a 10% CR (reduced intake of HFD by 10% but maintaining the same levels of micronutrients) in the presence or absence of curcumin and/or piperine for 5 wk, after which CR was increased to 20% for an additional 33 wk. At the end of the study, mice were sacrificed, and spleen cells were isolated. Cells were stimulated with T cell mitogens, anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, or lipopolysaccharide to determine T cell proliferation, cytokine production, and CD4+ T cell subpopulations.ResultsCompared to HFD control group, all CR mice, regardless of the presence of curcumin and/or piperine, had lower body weight and fat mass, lower levels of blood glucose and insulin, and fewer total spleen cells but a higher percentage of CD4+ T cells. Additionally, they demonstrated lower production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, a trend toward lower IL-6, and lower production of PGE2, a lipid molecule with pro-inflammatory and T cell-suppressive properties. Mice with CR alone had higher splenocyte proliferation and IL-2 production, but this effect of CR was diminished by spice supplementation. CR alone or in combination with spice supplementation had no effect on production of cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-17, or the proportion of different CD4+ T cell subsets.ConclusionCR on an HFD favorably impacts both metabolic and immune/inflammatory profiles; however, the presence of curcumin and/or piperine does not amplify CR’s beneficial effects.

Exposure to bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) increases levels of hepcidin mRNA and impairs the homeostasis of iron but not that of manganese

“…Data (Control n = 9; exposed to BMOV n = 8) are expressed as means ± SEM; ⁄ P < 0.05 vs. control group). (Wang et al, 2013). Therefore, the lower caloric intake resulting from the ingestion of V might contribute to decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokines.…”

Piperine’s mitigation of obesity and diabetes can be explained by its up-regulation of the metabolic rate of resting muscle

“…Changes in lean mass were small, ∼10%. One study showed that administration of piperine to mice during caloric restriction had no effect on a series of parameters (36). Thus, the main effect of piperine appears to be to mitigate fat gain during caloric overload.…”

Effect of GBOT on blood lipid and blood glucose metabolism in rats with atherosclerosis

“…The synthetic piperine derivative, piperonyl carboxylic ester, was used to examine blood fat reduction in experimental animals. The derivative, with its molecular structure containing 1 piperonyl, plays a significant role in reducing serum cholesterol, but its role in reducing TGs is not significant; the derivative containing 2 radicals plays a significant role in reducing cholesterol and TG, but its role in reducing cholesterol is less significant than the role of the derivative containing only 1 piperonyl (Wang et al, 2013a).…”