A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Curcumin for Improvement in Glycemic Status, Lipid Profile and Systemic Inflammation in β-Thalassemia Major

Abstract

Background and aimβ-Thalassemia major, the commonest inherited anemia worldwide is associated with abnormalities in glucose homeostasis and serum lipids and chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of curcumin on glycemic status, lipid profile and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in these patients. MethodsSixty-eight β-thalassemia major patients were recruited in this double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Subjects in curcumin group received two 500 mg curcumin capsules daily and the matched patients in placebo group took two placebo capsules every day for 12 weeks. Dietary intakes and biochemical parameters including hemoglobin, serum iron, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostatic model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hs-CRP and lipid ratios were assessed at baseline and the end of the trial. ResultsCurcumin significantly reduced HOMA-IR (p = 0.048), TG (p = 0.020), TG/HDL-C ratio (p = 0.024) and hs-CRP levels (p = 0.022) at the end of the trial when compared with baseline values. Based on analysis of covariance, levels of TG, hs-CRP and TG/HDL ratio also decreased significantly in the curcumin group compared with the placebo group by the end of the intervention (p = 0.038, p = 0.004 and p = 0.023, respectively). Changes in other variables were not significant. ConclusionsCurcumin improved insulin resistance, lipid profile and systemic inflammation by reducing HOMA-IR, TG, TG/HDL ratio and hs-CRP levels in β-thalassemia major patients. Curcumin may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for attenuation of the metabolic complications in these patients.