If you’re living with type 2 diabetes or just curious about natural ways to improve blood sugar control, you’ve probably come across curcumin. This golden-hued compound, found in turmeric, has long been celebrated for its anti-inflammatory properties. But can it actually help you manage diabetes? A new study published in Nutrition Journal sheds light on the benefits of curcumin for improving blood sugar control and other diabetic symptoms in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Let’s break it down.
What Did the Researchers Do?
Researchers conducted a 12-month randomized controlled trial with obese adults who had type 2 diabetes. Participants were split into two groups: one taking 6 capsules containing 250 mg total curcuminoid extract per capsule (1,500 mg of curcumin daily), and the other receiving a placebo. The study took place in Thailand and included 229 participants. This is one of the longest studies so far examining curcumin’s effects on diabetes, and the dose used was higher than many previous trials.
The curcumin extract wasn't a commercially produced extract, nor was it modified in any way to boost absorption. So, it was a pretty standard extract, though it was 75-85% curcuminoids, not quite the 95% pure curcuminoids seen in most standard curcumin extracts. And maybe that is a good thing. Other minor components of turmeric may improve the absorption of curcumin. That is the case for the BCM-95 extract and it might be true here, too.
What Did They Find?
The results were impressive! Participants who took curcumin experienced:
- Lower body weight: Losing weight is crucial for managing diabetes, and curcumin seemed to help. The average weight loss in the curcumin group was 8.4 pounds (3.8 kg).
- Lower fasting blood glucose (FBG): A key marker for blood sugar control. Both groups started at about 125 mg/dl. At the end of the 12 month study the placebo group average FBG was 130 mg/dl, while the curcumin group average was 115 mg/dl.
- Lower HbA1c levels: This long-term blood sugar marker improved significantly. The curcumin group dropped levels by 0.16 units, while the placebo group increased HbA1c levels by 0.21 units.
- Reduced insulin resistance: Their HOMA-IR scores dropped, showing better insulin sensitivity.
- Better hormone balance: Curcumin boosted levels of adiponectin (a hormone that helps regulate glucose) and lowered leptin (often elevated in obesity). Insulin levels also improved.
Overall, the trial showed that curcumin could play a significant role in managing type 2 diabetes. It seems that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin may have played a role in improving insulin resistance as well as helping with weight loss. It is likely that improving the body's inflammatory state lead to weight loss.
What Didn’t They Measure?
While the study results are encouraging, there’s one thing that I really would have liked to have seen: blood levels of curcumin. Participants took 1,500 mg daily, but we don’t know how much actually entered their bloodstream. Understanding blood levels could help explain why curcumin worked so well in this study. And it would help later if other researchers try to replicate this study and fail. (This is one of the industry's favorite ways of making natural herbal products looks terrible.)
Knowing the achieved blood levels would help other researchers how how to design their studies so that they could expect the same great results with their own curcumin extract products. How does BCM-95 compare to this extract? (We use BCM-95 in our Hallelujah Diet Joint Health product.) And what about CurQfen, which we use in our Professional Strength Curcumin? How much CurQfen do you have to take to get the same effect? You probably don't need 6 capsules a day, but is 2 enough? After all, it isn't how much curcumin is in the capsule that is important, but how much gets absorbed, how much of it gets conjugated (which marks it for clearance), and how fast it is cleared from the body. It’s a missing puzzle piece that we would really like to know in order to compare these results with other people's efforts.
How Does This Compare to Other Studies?
Curcumin has been studied for its effects on diabetes before, but this trial stands out. Let’s take a look at a couple of related studies:
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“Curcuminoids exert glucose-lowering effect in type 2 diabetes by decreasing serum free fatty acids”
This 2012 study showed that curcumin (300 mg a day of standard extract) helps lower fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and insulin resistance by reducing free fatty acids. However, this trial was shorter (3 months) and didn’t focus on weight loss as much as the newer study. It was probably too short and maybe didn't use enough curcumin to notice a big effect on weight loss. -
“The effect of nano-curcumin on HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile in diabetic subjects”
Another randomized clinical trial of diabetic people found that 80 mg per day of nano-curcumin (a more absorbable form) improved HbA1c and fasting blood glucose and weight loss. But again, the study duration (3 months) and participant numbers (70 total) were smaller compared to the new trial.
Why is the new study better?
- It lasted 12 months, giving a clearer picture of curcumin’s long-term effects.
- It included more participants, making the findings more reliable.
- The higher dose of curcumin might have contributed to the strong results—though without blood level measurements, we can’t say for sure.
Does Weight Loss Make the Difference?
One interesting point is that this study didn’t fully explore whether curcumin’s benefits were due to its effects on weight loss or other anti-inflammatory actions that indirectly help blood sugar. However, from what we know about diabetes, weight loss is a game-changer.
Research by Professor Roy Taylor has shown that losing a substantial amount of weight (more than 35 pounds for most diabetic people) can reverse type 2 diabetes. Such dramatic weight loss decreases the amount of fat in the liver and pancreas so that they can function normally. Since curcumin helped participants lose weight, it indirectly achieved what most diabetes treatments aim for: better blood sugar control and improved overall health.
The Bottom Line
This new study adds to the growing body of evidence that curcumin can help people with their type 2 diabetes. It isn't a treatment, but supports the normal functioning of the body, so that your body can heal itself. While we could ask for more results and try to understand how curcumin works and what blood levels of curcumin are effective, the results are promising—especially for those looking for natural ways to support their health. There are a lot of things we know work and we use even though we don't understand exactly how they work. The bottom line is that they do work, like curcumin and weight loss and diabetes.
And even if the benefits mostly come from weight loss, that’s still a win. Losing weight and keeping it off can be a hard task. But losing weight is the most effective way to avoid the ravaging effects of diabetes. So curcumin might be a valuable tool to help you along your way.
Have you tried curcumin or turmeric as part of your health routine? Has it helped you achieve weight loss? Let us know your thoughts!
