Curcumin Supplementation (Meriva) Modulates Inflammation, Lipid Peroxidation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Francesca Pivari, Alessandra Mingione, Giada Piazzini, Camilla Ceccarani, Emerenziana Ottaviano, Caterina Brasacchio, Michele Dei Cas, Margherita Vischi, Mario Gennaro Cozzolino, Paolo Fogagnolo, Antonella Riva, Giovanna Petrangolini, Luigi Barrea, Laura Di Renzo, Elisa Borghi, Paola Signorelli, Rita Paroni, Laura Soldati

Journal: Nutrients 2022;14(1):231

PMID: 35011106

Plain Language Summary

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disease associated with the body experiencing inflammation. Curcumin is a traditional herbal remedy found in turmeric, which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is poorly absorbed and so formulations which increase absorption have been developed including one marketed as Meriva, which has an optimised formulation using lipids for absorption. This study of 24 individuals with CKD and 20 healthy individuals aimed to determine if supplementation was safe and its effects on inflammation and other clinical markers of disease. The study showed that after 6 months of curcumin supplementation inflammation was reduced, there was a change in gut microbiome composition and supplementation was safe. It was concluded that gut microbiome composition and inflammation associated with CKD were improved following curcumin supplementation and that stabilisation of disease was observed. This study could be used by health care professionals to understand that the supplementation of curcumin may be of benefit to individuals with CKD.

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) subjects suffer from high risk of cardiovascular mortality, and any intervention preventing the progression of CKD may have an enormous impact on public health. In the last decade, there has been growing awareness that the gut microbiota (GM) can play a pivotal role in controlling the pathogenesis of systemic inflammatory state and CKD progression. To ameliorate the quality of life in CKD subjects, the use of dietary supplements has increased over time. Among those, curcumin has demonstrated significant in vitro anti-inflammatory properties. In this pilot study, 24 CKD patients and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. CKD patients followed nutritional counselling and were supplemented with curcumin (Meriva) for six months. Different parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 3-6 months: uremic toxins, metagenomic of GM, and nutritional, inflammatory, and oxidative status. Curcumin significantly reduced plasma pro-inflammatory mediators (CCL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-4) and lipid peroxidation. Regarding GM, after 6 months of curcumin supplementation, was significantly lower, while was significant higher. Notably, at family level, spp. were found significantly higher in the last 3 months of supplementation. No adverse events were observed in the supplemented group, confirming the good safety profile of curcumin phytosome after long-term administration.

Address: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Research Council, 20090 Segrate, Italy.; Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Clinical Biochemistry and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Health Sciences Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, A.S.S.T. Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, A.S.S.T. Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy.; Ophthalmology Unit, A.S.S.T. Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milan, Italy.; R & D Indena S.p.A, 20139 Milan, Italy.; Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Unit of Endocrinology, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.; Section of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomic, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.

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