American Diabetes Association finds Turmeric extract significantly effective in preventing type 2 diabetes in a pre-diabetic population
The World Health Organisation estimates there are now 311 million people who live worldwide with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This number continues to grow at alarming rates in particular throughout parts of Asia and newly developing countries elsewhere.
Turmeric or Curcuma longa as its botanical names infers, is a popular Asian spice widely consumed throughout the world. Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid found in turmeric and curcumin extract from rhizomes of turmeric
has been shown to contain anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties.
Curcumin has been shown to reduce inflammation by down-regulating other inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (a cytokine released by immune cells and mast cells that causes destruction of tumours and migration of neutrophils toward the site of bacterial infections), leptin (an appetite suppressing hormone), and resistin.
In a landmark human clinical study published in the Journal of Diabetes Care and The Journal of the American Association of Diabetes, revealed turmeric extract was significantly effective in preventing T2DM in a pre-diabetic population over a 9 month treatment course.
T2DM progression was assessed by measuring the changes in certain parameters, which included the insulin-producing cells within the pancreas known as β-cells, insulin resistance, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine known as adiponectin, at four different times: baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-month visits during the course of intervention.
The astonishing results revealed that after 9 months of turmeric extract treatment, 16.4% of subjects within the placebo group were diagnosed with T2DM. In stark contrast, none were diagnosed with T2DM in the turmeric treated group. In other words turmeric extract is treatment is 100% effective in delaying the development of T2DM in a pre-diabetic population. This study also revealed that curcumin intervention significantly increased adiponectin levels. Higher adiponectin levels have been associated with a lower risk of T2DM.
These significant results represent a chance for those people already heading towards T2DM, to halt this progression and maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle.
To read the full study for free online visit: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2012/07/02/dc12-0116.full.pdf+html
By Megan Maitland
BBioMedSci
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