Curcumin Supports Healthy Lipid Metabolism

Based on a recent study, curcumin positively affects lipid metabolism in mice by altering gene expression. In the body, lipids are produced in the liver. Excess serum lipids can affect walls of blood vessels.

Mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet and divided into three groups. One group received curcumin, one received a conventional cholesterol-balancing remedy and the third group received a control. After 18 weeks, scientists evaluated the mice for expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, markers of inflammation, markers of immune system activation and circulating lipids in the aorta.

Curcumin administration, similar to the conventional remedy group, maintained healthy lipid levels through the aorta, as well as localization of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, proteins that attract white blood cells to the vessel wall. Curcumin also resulted in healthy, balanced plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL “bad” cholesterol and the LDL component apolipoprotein-B. In addition, curcumin supported healthy levels of plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and liver expression of apolipoprotein A-1, the primary protein component of HDL cholesterol, similar to the conventional remedy.

Furthermore, curcumin administration inhibited processes involved in cholesterol synthesis while enhancing the expression of genes that utilize fats for energy production. Curcumin also balanced levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammatory response, and markers of immune system activation.

The researchers concluded that long-term curcumin administration supports balanced plasma and liver cholesterol and supports healthy lipid levels through the blood vessels. Curcumin’s actions are mediated through multiple mechanisms including its effect on balanced lipid levels and cholesterol and altered immune gene expression.

Reference:

Shin SK, Ha TY, McGregor RA, Choi MS. Long-term curcumin administration protects against atherosclerosis via hepatic regulation of lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Nov 7. Published Online Ahead of Print.