Even though the rates of diabetes are high, affecting about 30 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control, finding natural ways to impact those numbers can feel like a lost cause.

However, curcumin – an anti-inflammatory compound from turmeric (Curcuma longa) may prove otherwise.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, curcumin reduced fasting glucose levels and weight (including hip circumference) in individuals with type 2 diabetes in just 10 weeks.

It’s important to note that the curcumin used in this clinical trial contained a full family of compounds collectively known as curcuminoids, including curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. It was also blended with turmeric essential oil, which helps curcumin absorb and maintain effective blood levels of the compound better, too. Turmeric essential has the added benefit of providing another compound called aromatic turmerone (often abbreviated to ‘ar-turmerone’) which has anti-inflammatory power of its own.

This same curcumin was also found to reduce triglyceride levels and C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker in individuals with diabetes. Because inflammatory and oxidative damage are two hallmarks of every disease, including diabetes, this is important news. Additionally, triglyceride levels along with weight are two additional factors that are typically seen in individuals with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

The amount of curcumin used in the studies was 1500 mg divided into three, 500-mg doses throughout the day. Because this curcumin is so well absorbed and utilized in the body, that dosage is not just fighting diabetes, but also improving health overall.

Abstracts:

Hodaei H, Adibian M, Nikpayam O, Hedayati M, Sohrab G. The effect of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices, insulin resistance and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Diabetol Metab Syndr. May 2019;11:41.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorders in human and affect a lot of people around the world. Curcumin is a component of turmeric and in many studies therapeutic effects such as anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hyperglycemia for this substance are shown.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices glycemic control and oxidative stress in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 53 participants with type 2 diabetes were divided randomly into the experimental and control groups to receive either 1500 mg curcumin or placebo capsule three times in a day for 10 weeks.

RESULT: Supplementation with curcumin in type 2 diabetes compare to placebo causes a significant changes in mean weight (- 0.64 ± 0.22 vs. 0.19 ± 0.37 p < 0.05), body mass index (BMI) (0.3 ± 0.03 vs. 0.1 ± 0 p < 0.05), waist circumference (WC) (- 1.2 ± 0.4 vs. - 0.43 ± 0.11 p < 0.05) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) (- 7 ± 2 vs. 3 ± 0.2 p < 0.05) but did not show any difference for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and pancreatic B cell function (HOMA-B) at end of study.

CONCLUSION: This study indicated that daily administration of 1500 mg curcumin has positive effects in reducing fasting blood glucose and weight in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trial registration NCT02529982. Registered 19 August 2015, http://www.clinicaltrial.gov.

Here is the link to the complete study: The effect of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices, insulin resistance and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Adibian M, Hodaei H, Nikpayam O, Sohrab G, Hekmatdoost A, Hedayati M. Review of The effects of curcumin supplementation on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum adiponectin, and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res.  May 2019;33(5):1374-1383.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common and important metabolic diseases in human. Curcumin, which is a natural polyphenol found in turmeric, can be used in treatment of diabetes complications for its antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 44 patients with Type 2 diabetes randomly assigned to curcumin or placebo group. Patients consumed either 1,500-mg curcumin or placebo daily for 10 weeks. Anthropometric measurements were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and adiponectin were determined after 12-hr fasting at the beginning and end of study. The mean serum level of TG decreased in curcumin group compared with baseline (109 ± 36 vs. 124 ± 36; p < 0.05). At the end of study, the mean concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased in the curcumin group compared to the control (2.9 ± 2.9 vs. 3.4 ± 4.2; p < 0.05). The mean serum concentration of adiponectin increased (64 ± 3 vs. 63 ± 4; p < 0.05) in the treatment group compared with the placebo at the end of the study. The results of the current study indicate that curcumin consumption may reduce diabetes complications through decreasing TG level as well as indicators of inflammation.