Curcumin and other dietary polyphenols: potential mechanisms of metabolic actions and therapy for diabetes and obesity

• Published in: American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 314; no. 3; pp. E201 - E205
• Main Authors: Jin, Tianru, Song, Zhuolun, Weng, Jianping, Fantus, I. George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physiological Society 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Body weight; Body weight gain; Curcumin; Curcumin - pharmacology; Curcumin - therapeutic use; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus - therapy; Diet; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Intestinal microflora; Metabolic disorders; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; Obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - therapy; Phytotherapy - methods; Plants; Polyphenols; Polyphenols - pharmacology; Polyphenols - therapeutic use; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Therapy
• ISSN: 0193-1849; 1522-1555; 1522-1555
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00285.2017

Recent controversy regarding the therapeutic potential of curcumin indicates the challenges to research in this field. Here, we highlight the investigations of curcumin and other plant-derived polyphenols that demonstrate their application to metabolic diseases, in particular, obesity and diabetes. Thus, a number of preclinical and clinical investigations have shown the beneficial effect of curcumin (and other dietary polyphenols) in attenuating body weight gain, improving insulin sensitivity, and preventing diabetes development in rodent models and prediabetic subjects. Other intervention studies with dietary polyphenols have also found improvements in insulin resistance. Recent studies suggest that the metabolic effects of curcumin/polyphenols are linked to changes in the gut microbiota. Thus, research into curcumin continues to provide novel insights into metabolic regulation that may ultimately translate into effective therapy.