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Journalism of Courage
Obesity is now a global health problem and is dangerously becoming an epidemic of sorts among Indians too. Several studies are ongoing to find as many natural compounds as possible with fat-busting capabilities and include them as part of diet correction methods. As part of this effort, curcumin, which is found in turmeric, has been consistently showing up in studies as effective in weight management. Now a new review of meta-analyses by researchers from Thailand, which has been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has found that intake of curcumin supplements is indeed linked to reduced body mass index (BMI) body weight and waist circumference in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome.
The study even recommended that given curcumin’s impact on tested participants, any kind of lifestyle modification could include curcumin supplementation. This is largely because of its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and its role in boosting body metabolism, which in turn encourages fat and calorie burns. “Though the exact mechanism is not known, it decreases fat cell formation, increases fat cell death and alters fat-related hormones. And in this review, the effect of these properties has been confined only to the weight and waist circumference,” says Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis CDOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences.
Many studies have so far indicated that a dose of 1,600 mg of curcumin per day is needed to produce an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of the kind needed to promote weight loss. But whenever you take a turmeric supplement, make sure it is combined with piperine, or black pepper, to increase bioavailability of curcumin for absorption. Or else only turmeric won’t have any use. “Of the 50 included studies, there were three types of curcumin formulations such as whole compounds (N of turmeric rhizome, powder, or capsules = 5) with dosages ranging from 2000 to 3000 mg/d, curcumin extracts with dosages ranging from 500 to 1950 mg/d (N = 15), and bioavailability-enhanced formula (N = 27). Bioavailability-enhanced formula had various dosages, including curcumin ranging from 500 to 1000 mg and adding piperine 5 to 10 mg/d, nanocurcumin ranging from 80 to 180 mg/d, liposome as phytosomal or phospholipid ranging from 250 to 1000 mg/d, micelles at 294 mg/d, and amorphous dispersion at 500 mg/d. BMI (in kg/m2) was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) as <25 (N = 2), 25–29.9 (N = 32), 30–34.9 (N =15), and 35.0–39.9 (N =1). All had an effect on waistline measurements and weight before and after the intake,” explains Dr Misra.
In fact, Dr Amy Myers, a leader in functional medicine and a New York Times bestselling author, has written on how obesity is associated with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. “This leads to a chronic state of inflammation in your gut, wreaking havoc on your health and metabolism. Your adipose tissue, or body fat, secretes the hormones leptin and adiponectin. Leptin assists in appetite regulation and fat storage. Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory effects, helps regulate your metabolism, and protects against insulin resistance.
Now excess body fat can increase leptin levels and decrease adiponectin levels. This may cause adipose tissue dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammation. Since inflammation and obesity are linked, this makes losing weight challenging. Research shows curcumin could improve the inflammatory markers linked with obesity…reveals curcumin dramatically reduced weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). What’s especially notable is that all of the over 1,600 subjects were suffering from metabolic syndrome and related disorders, factors that typically hinder weight loss,” she has written.
“Curcumin is a bioactive compound found in turmeric, a spice commonly used in traditional medicine and cooking. It has been found to have various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties have been particularly well-studied, as chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to many chronic diseases, which impact our weight profile,” says Dr Priyanka Rohatgi, Chief Nutritionist, Apollo Hospital.
“Studies suggest that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties may help alleviate symptoms of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and even depression. Additionally, curcumin has been shown to improve cognitive function and protect against age-related cognitive decline. Curcumin’s antioxidant properties also make it a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and treating oxidative stress-related diseases, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and certain types of cancer. While there is still much to learn about the potential health benefits of curcumin, the available research suggests that it may have promising therapeutic applications. However, it is important to note that further research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and duration of curcumin supplementation, as well as its potential interactions with other medications,” she adds.
