Curcumin and Diabetes

A new study suggests that curcumin, a yellow pigment of the spice turmeric, may lower blood sugar, and therefore, may help treat diabetes.

Turmeric has been used in Asian food preparation, medicine, cosmetics and fabric dying for more than 2,000 years. Marco Polo described turmeric in his memoirs, and the herb became popular in Europe during Medieval times for its coloring value and medicinal uses.

Traditionally, turmeric has been used to improve gastrointestinal upset, arthritis and overall body energy. As an ingredient in foods, turmeric provides a yellow tint, as well as flavoring to curry dishes. Turmeric also plays a role in some Indian religious ceremonies. It is produced most extensively in India, but it is also cultivated in other countries in Asia and Central America.

Curcumin is the main constituent extracted from the roots of turmeric. During the 1970s, research began to focus on the pharmacological properties of turmeric and curcumin, particularly regarding possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Researchers from Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea, investigated the effect of curcumin on insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis in male mice and their age-matched lean non-diabetic mice. The mice were fed with or without curcumin for six weeks.

The study found that curcumin significantly lowered blood sugar levels and it suppressed body weight loss in diabetic mice.

The study authors concluded that curcumin seemed to be a potential glucose-lowering agent and antioxidant in type 2 diabetic mice, it but had no effect in non-diabetic mice.

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a chronic health condition where the body is unable to produce enough insulin and properly break down sugar (glucose) in the blood. Glucose comes from food and is used by the cells for energy. Glucose is also made in the liver. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. Insulin is needed to move sugar into the cells where it can be used for energy needed for body processes.

Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. The disease often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes. Pregnant women can temporarily develop gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that begins late in pregnancy.

In 2007, an estimated 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or seven percent of the population, had diabetes. An estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), while 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize diabetes as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with over 72,000 deaths in 2004.

Comments

[Carrie]

Based on an animal study published in 2005, both curcuminoids and sesquiterpenoids in turmeric may exhibit hypoglycemic effects via PPAR-gamma activation. In the study, Nishiyama et al. found that turmeric extracts exhibited hypoglycemic effects on blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

[CC]

In the diabetic mice, the glucokinase enzyme in the liver was more active after they received curcumin. This enzyme is important in the conversion of gluose into glycogen (the body's carbohydrate stores). This helps reduce the rise in glucose after eating a meal.

Curcumin also significantly reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the diabetic mice.

[Barney]

It is important to note that the use of curcumin is only for type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, the many sufferers of type 1 diabetes can only use insulin for treatment, and the use of curcumin will not help their disease. Type 1 diabetes patients have very few or no functioning beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Until researchers find a way to stimulate new beta cell formation, type 1 diabeticss will have to continue with insulin injections.

[Mitch]

Several human studies report that ginseng may also lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Several studies report a hypoglycemic effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) in patients with type 2 diabetes, in both fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose levels. These results are promising, especially since ginseng does not seem to cause hypoglycemia.

However, long-term effects are not clear, and it is not known what doses are safe or effective.

[Casey]

I read an article a couple weeks ago that said curcumin may also help protect against heart failure.

Researchers from Canada explored the effects of curcumin on cardiac hypertrophy in rats. The researchers found that curcumin has the potential to protect against cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation and fibrosis.

In a related study, researchers from Japan examined the effects of curcumin in two different heart failure models: hypertensive heart disease in salt-sensitive Dahl rats and surgically induced myocardial infarction in rats. In both models, curcumin prevented deterioration of systolic function and heart failure-induced increases in both myocardial wall thickness and diameter. The study authors concluded that inhibition of p300 HAT activity by the nontoxic dietary compound curcumin may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for heart failure in humans.

[Sue]

Curcumin-based treatments have also been studied in the treatment of cancer, dyspepsia (upset stomach), peptic ulcer disease, cholelithiasis prevention/cholagogue (gallbladder contraction/bile flow stimulant), high cholesterol, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scabies, HIV and uveitis (inflammation of the membranes of the eye).

[Missy]

Have any studies been done in humans? If so, I'd be interested to know what doses were used.

[Laura]

Missy,

I'm unaware of any human studies that test the effects of curcumin in diabetics. I think the current available research is preliminary. But, since it's been promising, I bet human trials will be underway soon (if not already).

[Victoria]

It's great that turmeric offers promise for diabetes.

There are a lot of complications associated with diabetes, including heart and blood vessel disease, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, eye damage, foot ulcers and gastroparesis. Have any integrative therapies been studied for these related conditions?

[Kelly]

Victoria,

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties. Vitamin E has been proposed for the prevention of types I or II diabetes and for the improvement of abnormal sugar control in diabetes; for prevention of platelet dysfunction and atherosclerosis in diabetes; for the correction of vitamin E deficiency in diabetic patients; and for the prevention of diabetic complications of the eye, kidneys, and nervous system (neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy). It is not clear that vitamin E is beneficial in any of these areas, and further evidence is necessary. Vitamin E may increase bleeding in sensitive individuals, including those taking blood-thinning medications such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin®).

[Jess]

I was actually shocked to not see any evidence in the Natural Standard monograph about its use in humans for diabetes. I guess that just shows me I was basing my opinion on traditional use all this time...It seems like the doses used in clinical trials for turmeric are quite large (up to 8g). Would people actually take up to 8g in pills per day? Meaning - even if curcumin works in animals, will it work in humans?

[Leah Cohen]

Doses of turmeric in whole-plant form may need to be high in order for therapeutic effects to be seen. Turmeric has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is incorporated into various foods, instead of capsules. So, this may make the daily dosage of up to 8 grams (mentioned above) easier to consume.

Some preparations I have heard of are: mixing turmeric powder into a blended beverage, such as a smoothie, or mixing turmeric with coconut oil to make a paste that can then be spread on foods.

[Erica]

It would be interesting to know if the rate of diabetes incidence is lower in those countries where turmeric is considered a seasoning staple. This spice seems to have a growing track record of health assets. Mehmet Oz, MD, in his book with Michael Roizen, MD, praises the healthy effects of turmeric. It even seems to help against the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Bon appetite!