Curcumin and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (1)

Recent randomized controlled parallel-group clinical study published in the 《Journal of Cellular Biochemistry》 indicated Curcumin C3 Complex developed by Sabinsa company, in combination with the company’s bioavailability enhancer-bioperine, revealed significant reductions in the severity of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which is the most common chronic liver disease without effective therapeutic interventions.

Turmeric/Curcumin

Turmeric (Curcuma Longa), an Indian spice, is a yellow pigment that is used worldwide in cooking, cosmetics, dyes, and medicines for centuries.(1) Curcumin (chemical name: diferuloylmethane) is a turmeric’s primary pharmacologically active ingredient extracted from the rhizome (roots) of turmeric,(2) that has the capacity to interact with hundreds of molecular targets.   

Scientific and clinical studies have demonstrated the protective effects of curcumin against many chronic diseases, which exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-tumor, and anti-metastatic activities.(3) However, the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin is limited because of its poor absorption and bioavailability due to their hydrophobicity.(4)

What is Curcumin C3 Complex?

Curcumin C3 Complex is an extract derived from the rhizomes of the turmeric and is standardized for 95% total curcuminoids, which is a combination of curcumin with bioavailability-enhancer bioprene, derived from black pepper for even greater absorption.(5)

Curcumin C3 Complex also contains the other two curcuminoids, dimethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. These two compounds stabilize curcumin and are more efficient to protect from oxidative stress than curcumin alone. 

Therefore, Curcumin C3 Complex is the foremost clinically-studied natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which is highly absorbable and bioavailable in the gastrointestinal tract with more health benefits than unmodified curcuminoids.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

The liver is the most essential organ of the body performing vital functions. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build-up of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is also called a fatty liver (steatosis) if more than 5%~10% percent of the liver’s weight is fat. 

NAFLD is becoming one of the most frequent causes of chronic liver disease and predictably, one of the leading causes of liver transplantation both for end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.(6) The American Liver Foundation estimates that Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects up to 25% of people in the United States.(7)

NAFLD, a multisystem disease tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. It increases the risk of type II diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular (CVD) and cardiac diseases, and chronic kidney disease.(8) However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. 

With rapid lifestyle transitions among more affluent regions of China, the prevalence of NAFLD is approximately 15% and is more often linked to obesity than to alcoholism, which has approximately doubled in the past decade.(9)     

However, to date, there is no effective therapeutic interventions are available for NAFLD prevention and management.

Clinical Study

In a recent randomized controlled parallel‐group study, 70 subjects with ultrasound‐determined NAFLD were randomized to either 500 mg curcuminoids coadministered with 5 mg piperine daily or placebo for 12 weeks. NAFLD severity (on the basis of sonography) and hepatic function was assessed at baseline and the study end.

The research found that NAFLD subjects treated with the C3 Complex and bioperine combination significant improve Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. NAFLD severity was reduced in a statistically significant way in the treatment group compared to the placebo group.

The study has concluded that beneficial effects of combined C3 Complex and bioperine supplementation on disease severity and may provide a safe and viable method for curtailing the progress of NAFLD.(10) 

Read More:

Curcumin and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (2)

About the Author:

Lin Zhang, M.D., senior director of a health care industry company in the United States. With the experience in clinical medicine, biotechnology, health industry and other fields, he is responsible for the research and development of plant medicine, functional food and health products. He was a clinician and worked for the National Cancer Institute, FDA and the National Cancer Center of Japan for many years.

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