Curcumin as a major active component of turmeric attenuates proteinuria in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Background:Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The benefits and effects of renin–angiotensin system blocker drugs are obvious in decreasing albuminuria, but there is a need to find other drugs that can decrease albuminuria. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of short-term administration of curcumin on overt albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Materials and Methods:A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed on 46 patients with T2DM, overt albuminuria ≥300 mg/24 h, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2. After the random allocation of the patients, they were divided into two groups. In the curcumin group, the patients received 500 mg (one capsule) of curcumin with each meal (three times/day after meal) for 16 weeks. Other variables including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), fasting blood sugar (FBS), 2-h postprandial blood sugar (2-h pp BS), lipid profile, 24-h urine analysis for albuminuria, serum albumin, and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) were checked at baseline and bimonthly too.Results:two groups at baseline were comparable in terms of basic characteristics (P > 0.05). Albuminuria decreased significantly from 900.42 ± 621.91 at the baseline to 539.68 ± 375.16 at the end of the study in the curcumin group (PTime = 0.002); however, no statistically significant changes were observed in the placebo group (519.94 ± 214.33 at the baseline vs. 444.00 ± 219.10 at the end of the trial; PTime = 0.43), and the decrease was significantly higher in the curcumin group than that of the placebo group (PIntervention = 0.01). No significant differences were observed between the placebo and curcumin in terms of changes in serum BUN, Cr, FBS, 2-h pp BS, HbA1C, lipid profile, and albumin.Conclusion:Our study showed that curcumin as an active turmeric metabolite was an effective adjuvant therapy for ameliorating macroscopic proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients. Its effect may appear after 2 months of therapy and even in patients with a mild decrease in GFR. Further studies with larger sample size and longer duration are recommended.

Effects of Curcumin on High Glucose-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Through the TLR4-NF-κB Signaling Pathway

“…Further studies with a larger sample size and longer duration are recommended. 36 In the present study, we have confirmed that HG can induce the changes of EMT markers, namely decreasing the epithelial marker E-ca and increasing collagen I, and BBR pretreatment exerts the potential protective effect against HG-induced EMT in NRK-52E cells.…”

Compounds of plants with activity against SARS-CoV-2 targets

“…These two compounds strongly bind to the catalytic core of the Mpro protein with higher efficacy than lopinavir, a standard antiretroviral of the protease inhibitor class X-ray crystallographic structure [ 67 ] Bioavailable curcumin diet (protein 34.2%, fat 16.5%, starch 28%, Bio-curcumin (BCM-95; Frutarom, Londerzeel, Belgium) 0.09% diet) ( C. longa ) Eight obese cats were fed to diet for two 8-week periods (cross-over study design) while maintaining animals in an obese state. Curcumin resulted in lower plasma α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentration but not changed haptoglobin levels Clinical trial [ 30 ] 500 mg curcumin capsules (total: 1,000 mg) twice daily for 12 weeks ( C. longa ) In 34 β-thalassemia patients, curcumin treatment significantly reduced serum levels of nontransferrin bound iron (NTBI), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and not affected the transferrin saturation Randomized controlled trial [ 31 ] 1,500-mg curcumin daily for 10 weeks ( C. longa ) In 22 patients with Type 2 diabetes, curcumin treatment the mean concentration of high-sensitivity CRP besides serum concentrations of triglyceride decreased Randomized controlled trial [ 32 ] Curcuminoids (500 mg TID per oral; n = 45) for a period of 4 weeks ( C. longa ) Curcuminoids were significantly efficacious in modulating all assessed inflammatory mediators: IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), CRP, calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in 45 male subjects who were suffering from chronic sulfur mustard-induced pulmonary complications Randomized controlled trial [ 53 ] Curcumin thrice a week at a dose level of 50 mg/kg b.w were administered for 9 consecutive weeks ( C. longa ) In 8 rats curcumin treatment effectively reduced the IL-6 and CRP levels in blood serum prevented the Benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung injury Preclinical in vivo [ 33 ] 500 mg (one capsule) of curcumin with each meal (three times/day after meal) for 16 weeks ( C. longa ) During the trial (4 months) in 23 patients with T2DM, the curcumin treatment significantly reversed albuminuria Randomized controlled trial [ 34 ] 200 µg of curcumin was i.p. injected daily until day 6 ( C. longa ) In mice, curcumin signi...…”

“…), studies were found for ACE activity [ 39–43 ], reverted serum albumin levels [ 24 , 34 , 44–50 ], decreased of the plasma levels of CRP [ 21–23 , 25 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 51–55 ], transferrin saturation [ 31 , 38 , 56 ], T cells regulation [ 25–29 , 35 , 37 , 57–65 ], haptoglobin levels decreased [ 30 ], APO A-I concentrations decreased [ 20 , 66 ]. Compounds of interest reversed these activities, but in contexts unrelated to SARS-CoV-2, except for two studies.…”

“…We found nine surveys showing curcumin activity against SARS-CoV-2 targets. According to this review, curcumin did not affect the transferrin saturation [ 31 ], induced an increase in the regulation of T cells [ 25 , 35 , 60 ], decreased the mean concentration of CRP protein [ 32 , 33 , 53 ], and reverted albuminuria levels [ 34 ], and did not change haptoglobin levels [ 30 ]. Haptoglobin, an acute-phase protein, is produced by hepatocytes and, also by lung epithelial cells.…”

Posibilidades de la terapia antioxidante en diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Estudio del estrés oxidativo en una muestra poblacional de pacientes diabéticos

“…Particularmente, la SOD reacciona con el superóxido para generar peróxido de hidrógeno, que es degradado por la CAT y el GPx. Gracias a su acción bioquímica, el SOD ayuda a suprimir la albuminuria, los niveles de TGF-β, la síntesis de colágeno y el EO en modelos experimentales 55 . En un estudio reciente, la curcumina, mayor ingrediente activo de la cúrcuma, fue capaz de reducir o atenuar la proteinuria en ND relacionado con el bloqueo de citoquinas, particularmente la TGF-β y la IL-8 56 .…”