Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Issued Date
2025-09-23
Resource Type
eISSN
14220067
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105018892858
Pubmed ID
41096556
Journal Title
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume
26
Issue
19
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol.26 No.19 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Yaikwawong M., Kamdee K., Chuengsamarn S. Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol.26 No.19 (2025). doi:10.3390/ijms26199286 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112742
Title
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Liver steatosis, the hallmark component of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is particularly common among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Shared mechanisms such as insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation contribute to the coexistence of these conditions and accelerate disease progression, emphasizing the need for effective therapeutic strategies. In this 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 227 obese individuals with T2DM were assigned to receive either 1500 mg of curcumin daily or placebo. Curcumin significantly reduced liver fat content, liver stiffness, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared with placebo (all p < 0.001). Improvements were also noted in inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (all p < 0.001), reflecting curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidant benefits were evident, as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased, while malondialdehyde levels decreased (all p < 0.001). Systematic safety assessments, including liver and kidney function tests, revealed no clinically significant abnormalities. Mild gastrointestinal discomfort was the most common non-serious adverse event. Overall, these findings support curcumin as a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for improving liver steatosis in obese patients with T2DM.