Extract of Curcumin preventing type 2 diabetes

A daily dose of curcumin over nine months appears to prevent diabetes in those with prediabetes

Researchers from Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand, conducted the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin in preventing the development of type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in those with prediabetes. People with prediabetes have glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough yet to indicate diabetes.

Dr. Somlak Chuengsamarn of the university and fellow associates included 240 participants with prediabetes who were randomly assigned to receive either curcumin or placebo capsules for 9 months.

After nine months of treatment 16.4% of participants in the placebo group were diagnosed with T2DM compared to none in the curcumin treatment group.

Researchers had also found those in the curcumin treatment group had better overall function of beta-cells. Beta cells are responsible for the creating and releasing of the hormones insulin and amylin, which serve to regulate glucose levels in the blood.

The researcher s concluded “A 9-month curcumin intervention of a prediabetes population significantly lowered the number of prediabetic individuals who eventually developed T2DM. In addition, the curcumin treatment appeared to improve overall function of β-cells, with very minor adverse effects. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the curcumin intervention in a prediabetes population may be beneficial.”

This study is published in the journal Diabetes Care.

Curcumin is the most important active ingredient in turmeric and has been used for centuries among Chinese and Ayurveda practitioners.

A study conducted by Columbia University Medical Center had found animal subjects who were exposed to turmeric were less prone to develop type 2 diabetes based on glucose and insulin tolerance tests. This study was published July 2008 in Medical News Today.