Written by Jessica Patella, ND. After 9 months the prediabetic profile of those who supplemented with curcumin improved while 16.4% of those who did not supplement with curcumin developed diabetes.
Diabetes is a world health problem, affecting an estimated 171 million people worldwide and 25.8 million people in the United States (2). The costs are also staggering, reaching an estimated $245 billion each year, with $176 billion for direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity in the United States alone (2). For this reason, research is exploring ways to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Recent research has found that supplementing with curcumin in pre-diabetics significantly lowered the development of type 2 diabetes (1)*.
Curcumin is the main medicinal component of turmeric, a popular spice in Indian and Asian foods (3). Curcumin is primarily known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but is also being researched for anti-diabetic properties (1,4).
The recent research included 237 participants with at least one of three signs of pre-diabetes:
- Fasting blood sugar between 100-124 mg/dL (indicating impaired fasting glucose)
- An oral glucose tolerance test between 140-199 mg/dL (at 2-hours; indicating impaired glucose tolerance)
- A hemoglobin A1c from 5.7-6.4% (indicating an elevated glucose load) (1).
All participants were randomly assigned to either a placebo group (n=116) or a curcumin group (n=119). All participants were instructed to take 3 capsules twice a day for 9 months. Each curcumin capsule contained 250 mg of curcuminoid (1).
After 9 months of supplementation, 16.4% of participants in the placebo group developed type 2 diabetes*, while none of the participants in the curcumin group developed type 2 diabetes (1).
All of the follow measurements were significantly improved in the curcumin group after 9-months compared to placebo:
- Waist circumference (84.4 vs. 91.6 cm; P<0.05)
- Fasting blood sugar (86.47 vs. 108.03 mg/dL; P<0.01)
- Oral glucose tolerance (123.35 vs. 155.09 mg/dL; P<0.01)
- Hemoglobin A1c (5.60 vs. 6.02%; P<0.01)
The curcumin group also had lower levels of insulin resistance (a marker of diabetes), compared to the placebo group (3.22 vs. 4.04; P<0.001) (1).
In conclusion, curcumin supplementation in the pre-diabetic population prevented the development of diabetes and lowered diabetes markers over a 9-month period (1). The researchers stated because there were no serious side-effects, curcumin should be considered as an alternative therapy in pre-diabetics (1). A longer trial may be required to see if pre-diabetics who supplement with curcumin would eventually develop type 2 diabetes (1).
*Diabetes and prediabetes were diagnosed according to the guidelines of the American Diabetic Association.
According to the American Diabetes Association prediabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. Results indicating pre-diabetes are as follows:
- Hemoglobin A1c of 5.7-6.4%
- Fasting blood glucose of 100-125 mg/dl
- An oral glucose tolerance test of 140-199 mg/dl (at hour 2)
Diabetes is defined as follows:
- Hemoglobin A1c greater than or equal to 6.5%
- Fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl
- An oral glucose tolerance test of 200 mg/dl (at hour 2)
- A random glucose reading greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl
Source: Chuengsamarn, Somlak, et al. “Curcumin extract for prevention of type 2 diabetes.” Diabetes care 35.11 (2012): 2121-2127.
© 2012 by the American Diabetes (Creative Commons Attribution License /by-nc-nd/3.0/ ) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Posted October 15, 2013.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians.Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Chuengsmarn S, et al. Curcumin Extract for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. 2012 Diabetes Cure 35: 2121-2127.
- Diabetes Statistics. National Diabetes Fact Sheet Jan 2011. American Diabetes Association.
- Kochhar KP. Dietary spices in health and diseases (II). Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2008;52:327–354.
- Aggarwal BB. Targeting inflammation- induced obesity and metabolic diseases by curcumin and other nutraceuticals. Annu Rev Nutr 2010;30:173–199
