Curcumin, a polyphenolic phytochemical, has shown potential health benefits in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and hypoglycemic properties. The latest research progress shows that curcumin has a positive effect on improving non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease (NASFL).
In a study conducted by Professor Feng Dan’s research group at the School of Public Health at Sun Yat-sen University, a randomized controlled trial found that dietary curcumin supplementation can significantly reduce liver fat content in patients with non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reveals that curcumin works by regulating gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism. The study also found that curcumin intervention can improve the composition of intestinal flora closely related to bile acid metabolism, as well as increase the level of deoxycholic acid (DCA) in serum, which is a kind of protein that can activate G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5). ) bile acid helps improve liver function. In addition, curcumin can also increase the expression of TGR5 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels. These factors are related to the improvement of NASFL.
In another study, turmeric extract showed potential protective effects against the steatosis stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in animal models and cell experiments. Experimental results show that turmeric extract can effectively reduce intracellular lipid accumulation, thereby having a positive impact on liver health. In a mouse model induced by a high-fat diet, turmeric extract showed significant protective effects on liver health, effectively reducing alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum. )level.
These studies suggest that curcumin may become an effective drug in the prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but its exact mechanism of action still requires further exploration and research.