Abstract
Obesity-associated hyperglycemia underlies insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and related metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes, renal damage, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Turmeric root is commonly used in Asia, and curcumin, one of its pharmacological components, can play a role in preventing and treating certain chronic physiological disorders. Accordingly, this study examined how high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are reduced by curcumin through changes in fatty liver scores, chromium distribution, and renal injury in mice. Relative to the control group, also fed an HFD, the curcumin group weighed less and had smaller adipocytes; it also had lower daily food efficiency, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, serum and hepatic triglyceride levels, and hepatic lipid regulation marker expression. The curcumin-treated obese group exhibited significantly lower fasting blood glucose, was less glucose intolerant, had higher Akt phosphorylation and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression, and had greater serum insulin levels. Moreover, the group showed renal damage with lower TNF-α expression along with more numerous renal antioxidative enzymes that included superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. The liver histology of the curcumin-treated obese mice showed superior lipid infiltration and fewer FASN and PNPLA3 proteins in comparison with the control mice. Curcumin contributed to creating a positive chromium balance by decreasing the amount of chromium lost through urine, leading to the chromium mobilization needed to mitigate hyperglycemia. Thus, the results suggest that curcumin prevents HFD-induced glucose intolerance, kidney injury, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM)—which can be of type 1, type 2, and gestational—is a crucial health concern in developing countries [1,2]
This study found that muscle glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression was increased in the curcumin group, probably because the stimulation of muscle glucose uptake was enhanced in response to the hyperglycemia induced by the high-fat diet (HFD) and curcumin supplement [55]
An HFD was used to establish an obesity and hyperglycemia mouse model, which was utilized to investigate the pathogenesis of type 2 DM with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in animals and humans
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM)—which can be of type 1, type 2, and gestational—is a crucial health concern in developing countries [1,2]. In response to increased insulin demand, pancreatic β-cells do not secrete sufficient insulin, severe hyperglycemia develops [4]. Insulin therapy is considered essential because the underlying gradual decline of pancreatic β-cell function is directly linked to glycemic control deterioration. When glycemic targets are not achieved through treatment with hypoglycemic agents other than insulin, insulin therapy more satisfactorily manages DM [5,6]. Various insulin therapies are available for DM management and achieve satisfactory glycemic control (e.g., multiple daily insulin injections or insulin pumps for type 1 DM, long-acting analogs and oral antihyperglycemic agents for type 2 DM, and a specific insulin type for gestational DM) [5]. The long-term administration of insulin can affect tolerance and lifestyle and increase the risks of hypoglycemia and weight change [7]
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