Supplementation with Curcumin Improves Depression Severity and Antioxidant Status in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes with Major Depressive Disorder

by | Sep 20, 2024 | 2024, Antioxidants, Botanicals, Brain Health, Curcumin, Depression, Diabetes, Recent Articles

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Investigators saw a significant improvement in depression severity at three months, six months, nine months, and 12 months following curcumin supplementation (P <0.0001).

depressed womanMajor depressive disorder is a clinical condition affecting individuals with chronic medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes significantly more than the general population1. Individuals with type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder are more likely to be non-compliant to treatment, at higher risk of mortality than individuals with major depressive disorder or diabetes alone, and lose work time due to disability2. Curcumin which is found in turmeric has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, an anti-apoptotic, as well as antidepressant effects3,4. Clinical studies attribute the antidepressant effects of curcumin to its ability to Increase dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin levels in the brain and promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus4-6. However, randomized clinical trials investigating the effects of curcumin on depression in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes is limited. In the current trial, investigators analyzed the efficacy of supplementing curcumin on depression severity in obese volunteers with type 2 diabetes7.

Two hundred and sixty individuals were enrolled in this placebo-controlled double-blind randomized clinical trial. Participants were required to undergo a three-month preparatory phase before randomization. Study duration was 12 months. Participants were included if they were ≥35 years old, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past 12 months, had HbA1C < 6.5%/fasting glucose <110 mg/ dL, and a BMI greater than or equal to 23 kg/m2. Investigators collected medical history, demographic information, anthropometric measurements, and blood samples at baseline. Investigators also reinforced lifestyle recommendations which included physical activity and medical nutrition therapy during the preparatory phase. Participant dietary intake and exercise habits were assessed through a questionnaire and a three-day food record collected at baseline and at 12 weeks. Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive curcumin capsules containing 250MG of curcuminoids [1500mg curcumin] or placebo which they were required to take twice daily for 12 months. Follow up visits were established at three months, six months, nine months, and 12 months to assess participant compliance the treatment protocol, collect blood samples, and measure depression severity. The primary outcome was depression severity measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ- 9) and secondary outcomes included measurement of antioxidant biomarkers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and serotonin levels. Between group differences were assessed statistically using paired t-tests (P <0.05).

Of the 260 subjects initially enrolled for this trial, data from 227 could be included in this analysis. No significant difference was observed between the placebo and curcumin groups at baseline. However, Investigators saw a significant improvement in depression severity assessed through the Patient Health   Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at three months, six months, nine months, and 12 months following curcumin supplementation (P <0.0001). Researchers saw a 20.4% improvement in depression severity in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group (P < 0.000001). Secondary outcomes were also positive following curcumin supplementation. At months 3, 6, 9, and 12, researchers observed a significant improvement in antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione peroxidase activity accompanied with reduced HOMA-IR level, BMI, and body weight in the curcumin group compared to placebo. Furthermore, at months 6, 9, and 12, malondialdehyde [an oxidative stress marker], fasting plasma glucose, and HbA1C were significantly lower in the curcumin group compared to placebo. These results did not differ between male and females. Patients reported headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea however none dropped out due to these adverse effects. Additional assessments showed the curcumin supplement was safe during the 12-month duration of this study.

This clinical trial demonstrated that 12-month supplementation with 1500 mg/day of curcumin improved serotonin level, antioxidant status, and depression severity [measured with PHQ-9] in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder. Oral administration of curcumin exhibited mild adverse effects and was safely administered during the 12-month duration of this study. Additional studies will be needed to verify these results.

Source: Yaikwawong, Metha, Laddawan Jansarikit, Siwanon Jirawatnotai, and Somlak Chuengsamarn. “Curcumin Reduces Depression in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Nutrients 16, no. 15 (2024): 2414.

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
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Posted September 20, 2024.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

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