Curry compound may curb diabetes risk: study

According to a Thai study, supplements containing a compound found in curry spice may help prevent diabetes in people at high risk. Researchers, whose results were published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that a daily dose of curcumin, for over nine months’ period, seemed to prevent new cases of diabetes among people with the so-called prediabetes – abnormally high blood sugar levels that may progress to full-blown type 2 diabetes.
Curcumin is a compound in turmeric spice. Previous lab research has suggested it can fight inflammation and oxidative damage to body cells. Those two processes are thought to feed a range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
Study leaker, Somlak Chuengsmarn of Srinakharinwirot University in Nakomnayok Thailand wrote that, “Because of its benefits and safety, we propose that curcumin extract may be used for an intervention therapy for the prediabetes population.”
The study included 240 Thai adults with prediabetes who were randomly assigned to take either curcumin capsules or a placebo. The ones taking curcumin took six supplement capsules a day, each of which contained 250 milligrams of “curcuminoids.”
After nine months, 19 of the 116 placebo patients had developed type 2 diabetes. That compared with none of the 119 patients taking curcumin.
The researchers found that the supplement seemed to improve the function of beta-cells, which are cells in the pancreas that release the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin. They speculate that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin help protect beta-cells from damage.
But a diabetes expert not involved in the study said it was still too early for people to head to the health food store for curcumin supplements.
“This looks promising, but there are still a lot of questions,” said Constance Brown-Riggs, a certified diabetes educator and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The trial lasted only nine months, and it’s already known from longer-lasting, larger trials that lifestyle changes — including calorie-cutting and exercise — can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Brown-Riggs added that consumers can’t be sure that a product actually contains the ingredients, or the amount of ingredient, listed on the label.
“If I was talking to a patient about this, I’d say concentrate on eating healthy and overall lifestyle,” she said.