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

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Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

ACAT:

Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AUC:

Area under the curve

BAT:

Brown adipose tissue

BHT:

Butylated hydroxytoluene

BMI:

Body Mass Index

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

ELISA:

Enzyme linked immunonosorbent assay

GLP-1:

Glucagon-like peptide-1

GTT:

Glucose tolerance test

HDL-c:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol

HF:

High-fat

HFD:

High-fat diet

HFD+C:

High-fat diet plus curcuma

HMG-CoA:

3-Hydroxy-3- methyl-glutaryl-coenzime A

HPFs:

High-power fields

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

LDL:

Low-density lipoproteins

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

NAFPD:

Non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease

PKB:

Protein kinase B

PPAR:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SD:

Standard diet

SD + C:

Standard diet plus curcuma

SREBP1:

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1

SREBP2:

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2

TC:

Total serum cholesterol

UCP-1:

Uncoupling protein-1

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

VEGF-R2:

Vascular endothelial growth receptor 2

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Acknowledgements

We thank Andreia F. C. Leone Aguiar and Paula Payão Ovidio for assistance with biochemical and histological analyses.

Funding

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (Grant number 134187/2015-6).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nutrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP 14049-900, Brazil

    Caroline Bertoncini Silva, Priscila Giacomo Fassini, Aline José Coelho Moreira Zordan & Vivian Marques Miguel Suen

  2. Departament of Pathology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP 14049-900, Brazil

    Leandra Náira Zambelli Ramalho

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy of Federal University of Goiás, Rua 240, esquina com 5ª Avenida, s/n, Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, Goiás, CEP 74605-170, Brazil

    Edemilson Cardoso da Conceição

  4. Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP 14049-900, Brazil

    Daniela Carlos

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  1. Caroline Bertoncini Silva
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Contributions

The authors responsibilities were as follows: CBS, PGF, and VMMS: design, writing, and final content of the research; CBS: conducted research; LNZR, AJCMZ, ECC, and DC: provided essential materials and support; CBS, AJCMZ, and PGF: analysed data or performed statistical analysis; CBS, PGF, and VMMS: wrote paper; CBS and VMMS: had primary responsibility for the final content. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caroline Bertoncini Silva.

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Silva, C.B., Fassini, P.G., Ramalho, L.N.Z. et al. Curcuma supplementation in high-fat-fed C57BL/6 mice: no beneficial effect on lipid and glucose profile or prevention of weight gain. Eur J Nutr 59, 93–102 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1887-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1887-7

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