Effects of phytosomal curcumin on anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance, cortisolemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease indices: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

• Published in: European journal of nutrition Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 477 - 483
• Main Authors: Cicero, Arrigo F. G., Sahebkar, Amirhossein, Fogacci, Federica, Bove, Marilisa, Giovannini, Marina, Borghi, Claudio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Bioavailability; blood glucose; Blood pressure; blood serum; Body measurements; Body weight; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Clinical trials; cortisol; Curcumin; Curcumin - pharmacology; Diabetes; dinner; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; fasting; Fatty liver; Female; Glucose; Glucose metabolism; High density lipoprotein; Hormones; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Insulin Resistance; Lecithin; Liver; Liver diseases; liver function; Male; Metabolic syndrome; metabolism; Middle Aged; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - blood; Nutrition; Original Contribution; Overweight; Phosphatidylcholine; Phosphatidylserine; phosphatidylserines; Piperine; placebos; Steatosis; Supplements; Tablets; transaminases; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides; waist circumference; Clinical trial; NAFLD; Curcumin; Diabetes; Metabolic syndrome; Phosphatidylserine
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-019-01916-7

Purpose Curcumin has shown to exert a positive impact on human glucose metabolism, even if its bioavailability is usually very low. The present study aimed to explore the effect of phosphatidylserine- and piperine-containing curcumin phytosomes on a large number of metabolic parameters related to insulin resistance, in the context of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial involving 80 overweight subjects with suboptimal fasting plasma glucose. Methods Subjects were randomized to be treated with indistinguishable tablets (2 per day, to be taken after dinner) containing 800 mg phytosomal curcumin (Curserin®: 200 mg curcumin, 120 mg phosphatidylserine, 480 mg phosphatidylcholine and 8 mg piperine from Piper nigrum L. dry extract) for 8 weeks. Results After 56-day treatment, the curcumin-treated group experienced a significant improvement in fasting plasma insulin (FPI), HOMA index, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, liver transaminases, gamma-GT, index of liver steatosis and serum cortisol compared to the baseline. FPI, TG, liver transaminases, fatty liver index and serum cortisol level also significantly improved compared with the placebo-treated group. Compared to the baseline, at the end of the study placebo group experienced an improvement only in FPG and TG. Conclusion In conclusion, the present trial shows that supplementation with a phytosomal preparation of curcumin containing phosphatidylserine and piperine could improve glycemic factors, hepatic function and serum cortisol levels in subjects with overweight and impaired fasting glucose.