Research has shown that supplementation with curcumin can reduce the negative effects of a high-fat diet. The study, which was published in theJournal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, looked at the beneficial effects of curcumin on inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance in high-fat fed rats.
One group only consumed a 30 percent high-fat diet, while the other group received a 30 percent high-fat diet with 200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) body weight of curcumin every day for 10 weeks.
The researchers measured the rats' food intake, body weight, and biochemical parameters at the start and at the end of the study.
After 10 weeks, the researchers measured oxidative stress parameters in skeletal muscle and liver triglyceride levels.
The results showed that the high-fat diet caused increases in body weight and liver adipose tissue mass.
It also increased levels of plasma glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Moreover, the high-fat diet increased plasma inflammatory markers and skeletal muscle oxidative parameters in rats.
In addition, it increased liver triglyceride content and caused fat buildup in the liver.
The treatment with curcumin significantly reduced body weight, liver adipose tissue, glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance.
It also decreased plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-c, and inflammatory markers, and increased HDL cholesterol.
In addition, it reduced oxidative stress, hepatic triglyceride content, and liver fat deposition.
In conclusion, the findings of the study suggested that curcumin can improve dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet.
To read more studies on curcumin's health benefits, visit Turmeric.news.
Journal Reference:
Maithilikarpagaselvi N, Sridhar MG, Swaminathan RP, Sripradha R. PREVENTIVE EFFECT OF CURCUMIN ON INFLAMMATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN HIGH-FAT FED OBESE RATS. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 1 June 2016; 13(2): 137–143. DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2015-0070