First Evidence Sabinsa’s Curcumin Reduces Lipoprotein(a) Associated with Bad Cholesterol in Type 2 Diabetes

A new study, published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine,¹ indicates that Sabinsa Corp.’s (East Windsor, NJ) proprietary Curcumin C3 Complex, in combination with its BioPerine black pepper extract bioavailability enhancer, may improve HDL cholesterol functionality and reduce non-HDL cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, Sabinsa says, this clinical trial is the first curcuminoids research to demonstrate a reduction in lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), which is a “protective armor” of LDL cholesterol.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted over a period of twelve weeks. A total of 100 participants with type 2 diabetes completed the trial. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups, with 50 of the subjects given a combination of Curcumin C3 Complex (1000 mg/day) and BioPerine (10 mg/day), while 50 subjects were given a placebo. Researchers recorded measurements of subjects’ serum concentrations of lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp(a), and non-HDL cholesterol at baseline and at the end of the trial. The study authors found that the group given the curcuminoid combination showed significant reductions in serum levels of total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and Lp(a) compared with the placebo group. Further, the group given the curcuminoids demonstrated increased levels of HDL cholesterol, with overall improved HDL functionality. The researchers say that they did not observe a significant difference in serum triglyceride or LDL-cholesterol between the active and placebo groups.

As the study authors point out, type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease “and is associated with disturbed metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins.” Thus, the results of the study indicate that this combination of curcuminoids may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events for subjects with type 2 diabetes.

“The overall conclusions in this study together with earlier studies on C3 Complex/BioPerine combination add to the body of science on its positive role in the health maintenance of diabetic subjects,” said founder of Sabinsa, Muhammed Majeed, PhD, in a press release. Majeed also contributed to the study.

Sabinsa says that, currently, the only drug interventions known to reduce Lp(a) are PCSK9 inhibitors, but notes that those are expensive and only available in injectable form. The absence of effective drug therapy for diabetes patients who may be more prone to cardiac events “further accentuates the importance of C3 Complex/BioPerine combo in such a scenario,” it says.

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