The intake of curcumin and piperine might be used as adjunctive therapy in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (Image: ryanking999/stock.adobe.com)
Curcumin and piperine as complementary fatty liver therapy?
Die non-alcoholic fatty liver is an extremely widespread complaint, with unhealthy eating being the main cause. To a certain extent, the disease is reversible and dietary changes in particular offer a promising approach. Also Curcumin and pepper might make a contribution here as herbal active ingredients, according to a new study.
A recent study published in the journalPhytotherapy Research‘ has published the efficacy of co-administration of curcumin and piperine in moderate to severe hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) examined. For the use as an additional therapy, the research team draws a positive conclusion.
Fatty liver widespread
Many people suffer from fatty liver without realizing it, with long-term serious complications such as a liver cirrhosis or even liver cancer threaten. According to the German Liver Foundation, around one third of adults in Germany are affected by an enlarged liver caused by fat deposits.
Dietary changes can often help to improve liver health, with green vegetables, fish and coffee, for example, being particularly effective at counteracting fatty liver.
Effect of curcumin and piperine examined
To what extent the intake of curcumin and piperine can contribute to the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver has now been published by an Iranian research team double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study examined with 60 participants.
Curcumin is a plant compound found in turmeric and piperine is a compound of black pepper (Piper nigrum). While curcumin is associated with positive health effects mainly because of its direct effect in the human body, piperine increases the bioavailability of curcumin when taken together.
In the study, of the 60 participants who were diagnosed with moderate to severe non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by liver ultrasonography, 30 people (assigned at random) received for a period of twelve weeks of curcumin and piperine (500 mg/day curcumin and 5 mg/day piperine) and 30 people were assigned to a placebo group.
At the start of the study and following twelve weeks, extensive medical examinations were carried out, in which not only the condition of the liver and liver enzymes were determined, but also factors such as blood pressure, lipid profile, inflammatory markers (highly sensitive C-reactive protein) and fasting blood sugar were taken into account.
Improvements through the active ingredients of plants
The subsequent data analysis showed that curcumin plus piperine compared to the placebo Taillenumfangthe systolic blood pressurethe total cholesterolwhich lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and what’s known as alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, the research team reports.
However, when the liver was examined using ultrasound, no significant differences were found between the groups following twelve weeks.
Application as adjunctive therapy once morest fatty liver
The researchers conclude that taking curcumin and piperine as a adjunctive therapy to improve anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose levels and liver function in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can be considered. (fp)
