Curcumin supplementation reduces blood glucose and serum lipids of Brazilian women with high waist circumference: a randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of curcumin supplementation on the body compositions and biochemical parameters of Brazilian women with high waist circumferences. Materials and methods: This is a blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 2016 with 35 Brazilian women with high waist circumference (WC). In total, 80 participants were randomized [38 in the placebo group (PG) and 42 in the supplemented group (SG)], but at the end of the protocol, 20 individuals in the PG and 15 in the SG were evaluated. The sample consumed one capsule of curcumin (500 mg/day) (Curcumin C3 Complex®) or a placebo for 90 days. Body weight, height, body mass index, WC, body fat, fat free mass, fasting glucose (FG), lipid profile [triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-c and LDL-c], physical activity level and food intake (energy, carbohydrate, total fat and protein) data were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: Curcumin supplementation reduced body mass (p < 0.040) but did not alter other anthropometric parameters or body composition (p ≥ 0.050). In relation to the biochemical profile, the SG saw reductions in FG (p < 0.001), TGs (p < 0.001) and TC (p = 0.001) compared with the PG. At the baseline and during the intervention, the practice of physical activity and food intake did not differ between the SG and PG (p ≥ 0.050). Conclusion: Curcumin supplementation improved the blood glucose and lipid profile of Brazilian women with high WC, without altering body composition. New studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations are important for identifying more robust data regarding the proposal of this work.

Curcumin supplementation reduces blood glucose and serum lipids of Brazilian women with high waist circumference: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of curcumin supplementation on the body compositions and biochemical parameters of Brazilian women with high waist circumferences. Methods: This is a blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 2016 with 35 Brazilian women with high waist circumference (WC). In total, 80 participants were randomized [38 in the placebo group (PG) and 42 in the supplemented group (SG)], but at the end of the protocol, 20 individuals in the PG and 15 in the SG were evaluated. The sample consumed one capsule of curcumin (500 mg/day) (Curcumin C3 Complex®) or a placebo for 90 days. Body weight, height, body mass index, WC, body fat, fat free mass, fasting glucose (FG), lipid profile [triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-c and LDL-c], physical activity level and food intake (energy, carbohydrate, total fat and protein) data were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: Curcumin supplementation reduced body mass (p < 0.040) but did not alter other anthropometric parameters or body composition (p ≥ 0.050). In relation to the biochemical profile, the SG saw reductions in FG (p < 0.001), TGs (p < 0.001) and TC (p = 0.001) compared with the PG. At the baseline and during the intervention, the practice of physical activity and food intake did not differ between the SG and PG (p ≥ 0.050). Conclusion: Curcumin supplementation improved the blood glucose and lipid profile of Brazilian women with high WC, without altering body composition. New studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations are important for identifying more robust data regarding the proposal of this work.

Metabolic syndrome impact on pulmonary function of women.

BACKGROUND: The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components may induce structural and physiological changes that exacerbate the impairment of the respiratory function. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome and its components on lung function in women. METHODS: This is cross-sectional study. A total of 121 women aged 20-75 years were assisted in two primary health centers of Brazil. These women were divided into two groups according to the presence of metabolic syndrome. Waist circumference and blood pressure measurements, high density low-cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides analysis and pulmonary function tests by spirometry were performed. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 46.3%. Systemic arterial pressure (BP) and waist circumference (WC) were identified with higher eigenvalues in the main components explaining 26.78% of the variance. The multiple regression analysis showed an inverse relationship between forced expiratory volume in the first second predicted (FEV1%) (ß = -6.0, p = 0.03) and predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) (ß = -7, 02, p = 0.004) with the presence of MetS. PA (ß = -8.50, p = 0.003) and WC (ß = -0.24, p = 0.001) it presented an inverse relationship with FVC% when was adjusted for age, smoking history, menopausal BMI. CONCLUSIONS: WC and PA were considered the parameters most related to MetS by principals components analysis. The diagnosis of MetS presented an inverse relation with the spirometrics parameters. Elevation of BP and WC were the predictors of the CFV% reduction.

Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor from Vigna unguiculata seeds enhances the action of bradykinin-related peptides.

The hydrolysis of bradykinin (Bk) by different classes of proteases in plasma and tissues leads to a decrease in its half-life. Here, Bk actions on smooth muscle and in vivo cardiovascular assays in association with a protease inhibitor, Black eyed-pea trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor (BTCI) and also under the effect of trypsin and chymotrypsin were evaluated. Two synthetic Bk-related peptides, Bk1 and Bk2, were used to investigate the importance of additional C-terminal amino acid residues on serine protease activity. BTCI forms complexes with Bk and analogues at pH 5.0, 7.4 and 9.0, presenting binding constants ranging from 103 to 104 M-1. Formation of BTCI-Bk complexes is probably driven by hydrophobic forces, coupled with slight conformational changes in BTCI. In vitro assays using guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) ileum showed that Bk retains the ability to induce smooth muscle contraction in the presence of BTCI. Moreover, no alteration in the inhibitory activity of BTCI in complex with Bk and analogous was observed. When the BTCI and BTCI-Bk complexes were tested in vivo, a decrease of vascular resistance and consequent hypotension and potentiating renal and aortic vasodilatation induced by Bk and Bk2 infusions was observed. These results indicate that BTCI-Bk complexes may be a reliable strategy to act as a carrier and protective approach for Bk-related peptides against plasma serine proteases cleavage, leading to an increase in their half-life. These findings also indicate that BTCI could remain stable in some tissues to inhibit chymotrypsin or trypsin-like enzymes that cleave and inactivate bradykinin in situ.