The Effect of Curcumin on Liver Fat Content in Obese Subjects
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2020-12-16
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The majority of obese have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD). Currently, no
pharmacological agents are licenced for the prevention or treatment of NAFLD, and weight
loss, notoriously difficult to obtain (and specially to maintain), remains the only treatment
option. Interestingly, curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from the turmeric root, has
from in vitro and animal studies shown promising effects in preventing and treating NAFLD,
and the sparse available human data point in the same direction; but solid human data are
missing. This study will delineate the effects of curcumin when treating NAFLD in humans.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of 6 weeks of curcumin on liver
fat content (assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)) in obese subject with NAFLD.
Additionally, a range of secondary endpoints have been chosen in order to delineate the role
of NAFLD in the newly discovered liver-alpha cell axis governing circulating levels of the
glucose-mobilising pancreatic alpha cell hormone glucagon and, thus, to elucidate the link
between liver fat content and the risk of developing reduced glucose tolerance and type 2
diabetes (T2D). Also, the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin will be elucidated, as
inflammatory markers will be measured before and after intervention. Furthermore, the effect
of curcumin will be measured by measuring the following parameters before and after
intervention: Transient elastography, anthropometric measurements, body weight, appetite,
food-consumption, calory balance, resting energy expenditure, gut microbiota, bioimpedance
measures, visceral- and subcutaneous fat, glucose tolerance, lipids, blood pressure, pulse,
liver parameters (blood-tests) and adipokines. During the oral glucose tolerance test before
and after intervention, incretin hormones, glucagon, amino acids, insulin, c-peptide and urea
will be measured.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Steno Diabetes Center Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Collaborators:
Herlev and Gentofte Hospital University of Aarhus University of Copenhagen