Curcumin a promising adjuvant lipid-lowering agent

A recent study has revealed that curcumin exerts favourable effects on the lipid profile, with its intake helping lower levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that evaluated the beneficial effects of curcumin supplementation on lipid profile parameters. They searched multiple online databases and identified 101 relevant articles published in English, of which 19 met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model. Meanwhile, the quality of the selected meta-analyses was assessed using a measurement tool to assess multiple systematic reviews (AMSTAR).

Pooled data showed that curcumin supplementation yielded significant lipid lowering effects, with marked reductions seen in total cholesterol (effect size, –0.81 mg/dl, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], –1.39 to –0.24, p=0.006; I2=68.8 percent, p<0.001), triglycerides (effect size, –0.84 mg/dl, 95 percent CI, –1.42 to –0.27, p=0.004; I2=84.2 percent, p<0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (effect size, –0.49 mg/dl, 95 percent CI, –0.85 to –0.13, p=0.007; I2=51.9 percent, p= 0.004).

Beyond the said improvements, curcumin intake also led to a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (effect size, 1.34 mg/dl, 95 percent CI, 0.37–2.31, p=0.007; I2=97.8 percent, p<0.001).

The present data highlight the potential of curcumin as an adjuvant antihyperlipidaemic agent.