Clinical Evidence

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoid-piperine combination in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial and an updated meta-analysis
Clin Nutr. 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.12.019
Metabolic syndrome (Met S) has become a global health problem that results to the co-occurrence of hyperglycemia, hypertension, abdominal obesity and
dyslipidemia—cardiometabolic risk factors. It has been known that risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its equivalents such as Type-II diabetes is high because of these risk factors. There are several evidences suggesting that Met S is strongly associated with oxidative stress— a unifying feature of the seemingly discrete components of Met S.

Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) has a pathological role in insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, endothelial damage and lipoprotein metabolism, several findings have shown that oxidative stress is an active contributor to the early stages of the disease. Hence, antioxidant therapy has been proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of Met S. It has been observed that low-grade inflammatory status commonly underlies Met S—characterized by elevated plasma levels of pro inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP). A large number of studies have pointed out that oxidative stress activates NF-kB and causes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP. Other active source of ROS is leukocytes, which get infiltrated in response to inflammation.

Hence, in the management of Met S and other related diseases targeting oxidative stress and inflammation in tandem would be beneficial because of the pivotal role of these factors.
Objective:
  • This study was conducted to understand the effect of curcuminoids on systemic oxidative stress and inflammation by measuring superoxide dismutase activity (SOD; a measure of systemic antioxidant capacity), malondialdehyde concentrations (MDA; a measure of lipid peroxidation) and C-reactive protein (CRP; a measure of systemic inflammation)
  • Additionally, a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials on CRP as a risk marker and risk factor of cardiovascular disease and influence of curcuminoid therapy on circulating concentration of CRP was carried out
Study Design:

In this Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 117 subjects diagnosed with Met S (according to NCEP-ATPIII criteria) were enrolled who met the inclusion criteria  that subjects prior to enrolling in the trial were not receiving lipid lowering therapy. The subjects were randomized into two groups: active (n=59) and placebo (n=58). The active group received Curcumin C3 Complex®-BioPerine® combination (1000 mg-10 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were withdrawn from all the subjects at baseline and at the end of the trial.

Results:
  • The meta-analysis results showed that Curcuminoids supplementation has significantly reduced the serum hs-CRP concentrations. Further, Curcuminoids – Piperine combination improved the biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress
  • The study results revealed a significant decrease in serum MDA, hs-CRP (both p<0.001) and HbA1c concentration (p=0.048) but increased SOD activities (p<0.001) in Curcumin C3 Complex® – Bioperine® treated group
Conclusion

Based on the results researchers concluded that Curcumin C3 Complex® –  BioPerine® is an effective natural supplement for managing Met S.