Effects of curcumin on body weight, glycemic control and serum lipids in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin on body weight, glycemic control and serum lipids in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: The current randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 60 subjects with PCOS, aged 18�40 years old. Subjects were randomly allocated to take 500 mg/day curcumin (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Glycemic control and serum lipids were measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Using RT-PCR method, gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism was evaluated. Results: Curcumin significantly decreased weight (�0.8 ± 0.9 vs. �0.2 ± 0.8 kg, P = 0.03) and BMI (�0.3 ± 0.4 vs. �0.1 ± 0.3 kg/m2, P = 0.03). Curcumin, compared with the placebo, significantly reduced fasting glucose (β �2.63 mg/dL; 95 CI, �4.21, �1.05; P = 0.002), serum insulin (β �1.16 μIU/mL; 95 CI, �2.12, �0.19; P = 0.02), insulin resistance (β �0.26; 95 CI, �0.48, �0.03; P = 0.02), and significantly increased insulin sensitivity (β 0.006; 95 CI, 0.001, 0.01; P = 0.02). In addition, taking curcumin was associated with a significant reduction in total cholesterol (β �15.86 mg/dL; 95 CI, �24.48, �7.24; P = 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (β �16.09 mg/dL; 95 CI, �25.11, �7.06; P = 0.001) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (β �0.62; 95 CI, �0.93, �0.30; P < 0.001), and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol levels (β 2.14 mg/dL; 95 CI, 0.36, 3.92; P = 0.01) compared with the placebo. Additionally, curcumin administration up-regulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (P = 0.03) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) (P < 0.001) compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Overall, curcumin administration for 12 weeks to women with PCOS had beneficial effects on body weight, glycemic control, serum lipids except triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol levels, and gene expression of PPAR-γ and LDLR. Registered under Clinical Trials.gov Identifier no. http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20170513033941N50. © 2020 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolis