Curcuma supplementation in high-fat-fed C57BL/6 mice: no beneficial effect on lipid and glucose profile or prevention of weight gain.

PURPOSE

This experimental study investigated the effects of curcuma supplementation on weight gain, Body Adiposity Index, glucose and lipid profile, and liver and pancreas histology in C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet.

METHODS

40 animals were separated into four groups: standard diet (SD), standard diet plus curcuma (SD + C), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet plus curcuma (HFD + C). Curcuma dose was 8 mg/animal/day. Histological and biochemical analyses were performed at the end of the experimental period.

RESULTS

Curcuma prevented weight gain, despite a higher food intake, and increased brown adipose tissue weight only in mice receiving standard diet. However, these changes were not observed in HFD + C group. The groups that received curcuma (SD + C and HFD + C) showed a pancreas with diffuse macro- and microgoticular steatosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcuma supplementation did not prevent weight gain or improved glucose and lipid profile in mice receiving high-fat diet. Furthermore, there was evidence of possible curcuma toxicity in the pancreas of C57BL/6 mice. The implications of these findings on humans still need to be investigated.