Effects of supplementation with curcumin on serum adipokine concentrations: A randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Previous experimental studies have suggested curcumin as a safe phytochemical that can improve insulin resistance through effects on adiponectin and leptin. This study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin on circulating adiponectin and leptin concentrations in patients with metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
In this pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, subjects who met the criteria of metabolic syndrome according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were randomly assigned to curcumin (n = 59; 1000 mg/d) or a placebo (n = 58) for 8 wk. Serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations were determined before and after intervention. The pooled effect size for the impact of curcumin supplementation on serum adiponectin and leptin levels was also estimated using random-effects metaanalysis.


RESULTS
Eight-week supplementation with curcumin was associated with a significant increase in serum adiponectin levels (P < 0.001) and a reduction in serum leptin concentrations (P < 0.001). Serum leptin:adiponectin ratio was also improved by curcumin (P < 0.001). These beneficial effects of curcumin remained significant after adjustment for changes in serum lipids and glucose concentrations and baseline differences in body mass index and serum levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin as potential confounders of treatment response. Metaanalysis suggested that curcumin supplementation can increase adiponectin levels by 76.78% (95% CI: 6.14-147.42; P = 0.0330), and reduce leptin by 26.49% (95% CI: -70.44 to 17.46), however this latter effect size did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.238).


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin can improve serum levels of adiponectin and leptin in patients with metabolic syndrome. This trial was registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/) under Trial No. UMIN000018339.
Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Yunes
Y
Panahi
Department of Endocrinology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahboobeh Sadat
MS
Hosseini
Department of Endocrinology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Nahid
N
Khalili
Department of Endocrinology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Effat
E
Naimi
Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Department of Modern Sciences and Technologies, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Sara Saffar
SS
Soflaei
Sabinsa Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA.
Muhammed
M
Majeed
Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Metabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: Sahebkara@mums.ac.ir.
Amirhossein
A
Sahebkar
D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D054392:Adipokines; D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D003474:Curcumin
Adiponectin; Curcumin; Leptin; Meta-analysis; Metabolic syndrome