The Beneficial Effects of Curcumin Supplementation on Chronic Inflammatory and Metabolic Diseases

by | Jul 23, 2024 | Botanicals, Curcumin, Recent Articles

Written by Harold Oster, MD. Results suggest that oral curcumin supplementation may have beneficial effects on chronic inflammation and glucose homeostasis.

botanicals - curcuminChronic inflammation and the oxidative stress that follows can lead to the onset of numerous conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, neurological disease, and cancer1. Curcumin, a polyphenol found in the turmeric plant, is widely used as a supplement. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may have health benefits in humans2.

Young-Min Lee and Yoona Kim studied the effects of curcumin on chronic inflammation, glucose homeostasis, lipid levels, cognitive function, and mental health. Through a MEDLINE search, the authors evaluated 210 English-language meta-analyses of randomized studies of curcumin’s effects on various conditions and indicators of chronic disease. The search included inflammatory markers—C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and leptin1,3. The search also included tests for glycemic control—fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, the homeostasis model of insulin resistance4 (HOMA-IR), and insulin levels. Additionally, the authors evaluated meta-analyses for curcumin’s effects on levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress5, blood pressure, serum lipids, obesity, depression, anxiety, and cognitive function.

The authors noted the following:

  • Based on exclusion criteria, fifty-four meta-analyses were used in the study.
  • Curcumin supplementation was associated with an improvement in inflammatory markers. CRP levels improved in seven of ten meta-analyses; IL-6 levels decreased in five of eight meta-analyses; TNF levels fell in six of nine; and leptin levels decreased in three of three.
  • In five of six studies, curcumin supplementation was associated with decreased malondialdehyde levels.
  • Fasting glucose levels improved in fourteen of fifteen meta-analyses; HOMA-IR improved in twelve of twelve studies; HbA1c improved in seven of eight; and insulin levels fell in eight of ten.
  • Total cholesterol levels improved in fourteen of nineteen meta-analyses. There was no indication that curcumin supplementation affected other lipid levels.
  • Curcumin supplementation had no significant effect on body weight or blood pressure.
  • In all four meta-analyses that evaluated depression, curcumin was associated with improvement. Symptoms improved in the one meta-analysis studying anxiety.
  • Results were mixed regarding cognitive function. Working memory improved in the single meta-analysis that looked at it. Overall cognitive function improved in one of two studies and worsened in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease who took curcumin.

Results suggest that curcumin supplementation may be associated with a reduction in chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, improved glucose homeostasis, and decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety. Limitations of the study include possible selection bias and the inclusion of meta-analyses that used controlled trials of low quality.

Source: Lee, Young-Min, and Yoona Kim. “Is Curcumin Intake Really Effective for Chronic Inflammatory Metabolic Disease? A Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Nutrients 16, no. 11 (2024): 1728.

© 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/4.0/).

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Posted July 23, 2024.

Harold Oster, MD graduated from medical school in Miami, Florida in 1992 and moved to Minnesota in 2004. After more than 25 years of practicing Internal Medicine, he recently retired. Dr. Oster is especially interested in nutrition, weight management, and disease prevention. Visit his website at haroldoster.com.

References:

  1. Nigam M, Mishra AP, Deb VK, et al. Evaluation of the association of chronic inflammation and cancer: Insights and implications. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. Aug 2023;164:115015. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115015
  2. Shimizu K, Funamoto M, Sunagawa Y, et al. Anti-inflammatory Action of Curcumin and Its Use in the Treatment of Lifestyle-related Diseases. Eur Cardiol. Jul 2019;14(2):117-122. doi:10.15420/ecr.2019.17.2
  3. Pérez-Pérez A, Sánchez-Jiménez F, Vilariño-García T, Sánchez-Margalet V. Role of Leptin in Inflammation and Vice Versa. Int J Mol Sci. Aug 16 2020;21(16)doi:10.3390/ijms21165887
  4. Katsuki A, Sumida Y, Gabazza EC, et al. Homeostasis model assessment is a reliable indicator of insulin resistance during follow-up of patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. Feb 2001;24(2):362-5. doi:10.2337/diacare.24.2.362
  5. Cordiano R, Di Gioacchino M, Mangifesta R, Panzera C, Gangemi S, Minciullo PL. Malondialdehyde as a Potential Oxidative Stress Marker for Allergy-Oriented Diseases: An Update. Molecules. Aug 9 2023;28(16)doi:10.3390/molecules28165979