Curcuminoids modify lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial

Bacicground: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with disturbed metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins. Curcuminoids are natural products with anti-diabetic and lipid-modifying actions but their efficacy in improving dyslipidemia in diabetic individuals has not been sufficiently studied. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of supplementation with curcuminoids, plus piperine as an absorption enhancer, in improving serum lipids in patients with T2D. Methods: In this 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, subjects with T2D (n = 118) were assigned to curcuminoids (1000 mg/day plus piperine 10 mg/day) or placebo plus standard of care for T2D. Serum concentrations of lipids including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and non-HDL-C were determined at baseline and at the end of trial. Results: Between-group comparison of change in the study parameters revealed significant reductions in serum levels of TC (-21.86 +/- 25.78 versus -17.06 +/- 41.51, respectively; p = 0.023), non-HDL-C (-23.42 +/- 25.13 versus-16.84 +/- 41.42, respectively; p = 0.014) and Lp(a) (-1.50 +/- 1.61 versus -0.34 +/- 1.73, respectively; p = 0.001) and elevations in serum HDL-C levels (1.56 +/- 4.25 versus -0.22 +/- 4.62, respectively; p = 0.048) in the curcuminoids group as compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). Serum TG and LDL-C changes did not show any significant difference between the study groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Curcuminoids supplementation can reduce serum levels of atherogenic lipid indices including nonHDL-C and Lp(a). Therefore, curcuminoids supplementation could contribute to a reduced risk of cardiovascular events in dyslipidemic patients with T2D.