Dietary Turmeric Supplement Use in Diabetes

Supplement Common & Botanical Name; Active Compound

The common name of my chosen dietary supplement is turmeric1 while the botanical
name is Curcuma longa2. It does have an active compound known as circuminoids or
circumin1,3.
Summary of Evidence Part 1: Administration, Use, Toxicity, etc.
Turmeric can be obtained in powdered form4 and is commonly used as a spice in
cooking1. It can also be taken orally in the form of capsules, extracts and even tinctures4.
Furthermore, different dosages can be used for different reasons and absorption of curcumin can
be enhanced if administered with food5. The list for supposed uses of turmeric and its active
compound curcumin is vast. Major uses1,3 include taken for skin, liver, stomach/digestion,
inflammatory related conditions, Alzheimers, heart conditions, diabetes, and even cancer. Some
scientific reviews3 and research articles2,6 claim that turmeric could act as an antioxidant, anti-
inflammatory agent, improve metabolism, and positively affect beta cells in the pancreas. Most
of my research3,5 agreed that there are no known significant side effects of turmeric/curcumin
except that high doses may cause stomach irritation. Also, it has minor to moderate interactions
with drugs/herbs and could act as a blood thinner or may prevent absorption of iron5.
Summary of Evidence Part 2: Findings of Human Study Research Article
In one study6, 240 prediabetic patients from Thailand blindly took 3 capsules that were
either a placebo or contained turmeric from Thailand. The patients followed MNT and physical
activity guidelines and did not take any other medications. The patients were followed for a year
and those who consumed turmeric/curcumin did not develop type 2 diabetes, had improved beta
cell function, decreased insulin resistance, increased adiponectin, and small reductions in body
weight. Meanwhile, many patients from the placebo group developed type 2 diabetes and did not
experience the positive effects seen in the turmeric group. Furthermore, there were no major side
effects of taking the turmeric capsules except for a few minor complaints6.
Professional Conclusion
I believe it is fine for pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients to include turmeric in their
diet based on the fact that it does not have any major side effects3,5 and that there is research6 to
suggest that it is a promising ameliorant for diabetes. However, I would not completely forgo
eating a balanced diet, being physically active, following MNT goals, and taking medications or
treatments prescribed by a doctor. Though the research3,6 is promising, it did not seem definitive
as of now. Furthermore, factors such as the ethnicity of test subjects6 have to be taken into
consideration when analyzing results.

References
1. Turmeric. NCCIH. U.S National Library of Medicine. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric/
ataglance.htm. Updated September, 2016 Accessed November 28, 2016.
2. Mishra S, Palanivelu K. The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimers disease: An
overview. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 2008;11(1):13-19. doi:
10.4103/0972-2327.40220. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/
3. Meng B, Li J, Cao H. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Curcumin on Diabetes
Mellitus and its Complications. CPD Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2013;19(11):2101-2113.
doi:10.2174/1381612811319110011. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cpd/
2013/00000019/00000011/art00011?crawler=true
4. Turmeric. University of Maryland Medical Center. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/
herb/turmeric. Updated June 26, 2014. Accessed November 28, 2016.
5. Turmeric . naturaldatabase . http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?
cs=PLPTLPHONLY~CEPDA&s=ND&pt=100&id=662&ds=. Updated February 11, 2016.
Accessed November 28, 2016.
6. Chuengsamarn S, Rattanamongkolgul S, Luechapudiporn R, Phisalaphong C, Jirawatnotai S.
Curcumin Extract for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(11):2121-2127.
doi:10.2337/dc12-0116. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/35/11/2121.long