Curcumin-pepper combination shows antioxidant benefits for diabetics: RCT
Oxidative stress is known to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, and conditions related to elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) may also contribute to oxidative stress.
Clinical data published in the PubMed-listed journal Inflammopharmacology shows for the first time that the curcuminoid–piperine combination supplement may impact measures of oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes.
“The results of the present study indicated that curcuminoids supplementation, at a dose of 1000 mg/day for a period of 3 months, can significantly decrease serum MDA [malondialdehyde – a marker of oxidative stress] and increase TAC [serum total antioxidant capacity] and SOD [superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme] activities in patients with T2DM,” wrote researchers from Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and Sabinsa Inc.
Study details
The researchers recruited 118 type 2 diabetics and randomly assigned them to receive either placebo or 1,000 mg per day of C3 Complex plus 10 mg per day of BioPerine for three months.
“Clinical use of curcuminoids has been alleged to be limited by low oral bioavailability owing to the rapid intestinal and hepatic metabolism of these compounds which occur mainly in the form of glucuronidation,” they explained. “To tackle this potential limitation, curcuminoids were co-administered with piperine in this study. Piperine is an alkaloid extracted from Piper species that has absorption-enhancing effects through blocking both intestinal and hepatic glucuronidation. The efficacy and safety of such a combination has been shown in several previous trials.”
Results showed that the curcuminoid-piperine combination resulted in an 21.9% reduction in MDA levels, compared to baseline levels, while no statistically significant changes were observed in the placebo group.
In addition, the curcuminoid-piperine combination increased SOD and TAC levels by 11.6% and 21.1%, respectively, compared to baseline. On the other hand, these decreased by 12.6% and 17%, respectively in the placebo group, compared to placebo.
Supporting the health of diabetics
Commenting on the study’s findings, Nagabhushanam Kalyanam, PhD, President (R&D) at Sabinsa, said: “Diminution of the well-marker of oxidative stress, MDA, as well as the increase in TAC and SOD, body’s natural and most powerful anti-oxidant enzymes, are prized goals indicative of the body’s response to undo the damage wreaked by hyperglycemia.
“The growing body of science indicates this combination can play a significant role in supporting the health of diabetes patients, and we intend to pursue this line of study further.”
Source: Inflammopharmacology
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s10787-016-0301-4
“Antioxidant effects of curcuminoids in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial”
Authors: Y. Panahi et al.
