Effects of Highly Absorbable Curcumin in Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Oxidative stress is enhanced by various mechanisms. Serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a useful prognostic marker in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. To examine the effects of Theracurmin®, a highly absorbable curcumin preparation, on glucose tolerance, adipocytokines, and oxidized LDL, we conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group randomized trial in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We randomly divided the patients with impaired glucose tolerance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and stable individuals into the placebo group and the Theracurmin® (180 mg daily for 6 months) group. Of the 33 patients analyzed, 18 (14 males and 4 females) were administered placebo and 15 (9 males and 6 females) were administered Theracurmin®. The patient characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The primary endpoint, HbA1c, did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the level of α1-antitrypsin-low-density lipoprotein (AT-LDL), the oxidized LDL, significantly increased (p = 0.024) in the placebo group from the beginning of the trial up to 6 months, although there was no such change in the Theracurmin® group. The percentage change in BMI from the beginning of the trial up to 6 months tended to be higher in the Theracurmin® group than in the placebo group. Patients in the Theracurmin® group tended to have a larger percentage change in adiponectin and LDL-C than those in the placebo group. Patients in the Theracurmin® group showed a smaller percentage change in AT-LDL than those in the placebo group. This study suggests that the highly absorbable curcumin could potentially inhibit a rise in oxidized LDL in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This trial is registered with UMIN000007361.

The effects of curcumin intake on wound healing and metabolic status in patients with diabetic foot ulcer: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

“…Earlier, we indicated that 12 weeks' supplementation with 80 mg/day nanocurcumin in T2DM patients on hemodialysis maintenance was associated with significant improvement of FPG, plasma insulin concentrations, and lipid levels (Shafabakhsh et al, 2020). In contrast to our findings, 6 months supplementation with a high‐absorbable form of curcumin at a dosage of 90 mg/day did not affect FPG and plasma lipid variables in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetic patients (Funamoto et al, 2019). In patients living with diabetes, insulin resistance, dysregulation in glycemic control, and abnormal lipid profiles like increased LDL‐cholesterol levels are involved in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular outcomes (Asemi et al, 2015; Bahmani et al, 2016; Bornfeldt & Tabas, 2011; Tajadadi‐Ebrahimi et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2013).…”

“…Earlier, we observed that nanocurcumin supplementation at a dosage of 80 mg/day for 3 months in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients on hemodialysis maintenance reduced FPG and insulin levels and improved lipid values and the parameters of inflammatory status and oxidative stress (Shafabakhsh et al, 2020). However, daily supplementation with 90 mg high‐absorbable curcumin during 6 months had no significant effect on FPG and lipid variables in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetic individuals (Funamoto et al, 2019).…”

Toward Regulatory Effects of Curcumin on Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Across Different Diseases: A Review

“…It is said that antioxidant activity of curcumin is mainly mediated by stimulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway ( Zhang et al, 2020a ). Multiple studies have investigated the potential of curcumin in diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment, as a chronic metabolic disorder ( Funamoto et al, 2019 ). Mechanistically, curcumin improves insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, and remarkably diminishes levels of glucose via upregulation of GLUT1 and GLUT4 ( Al-Saud, 2020 ).…”

The Effects of Curcuma longa in Insulin Resistance

“…Hodaei et al [47] showed that the use of curcumin promoted a reduction in the waist circumference (WC) in patients with T2DM. Also, in T2DMpatients, Funamoto et al [48] observed that preparation with curcumin (Theracurmin) decreased the levels of triglycerides and γglutamyl transpeptidase. Theracurmin preparation ensures that curcumin is consistently dispersed in an aqueous solution and thus improves its absorption by the intestinal tract.…”