Downregulated hs-CRP and MAD, upregulated GSH and TAC, and improved metabolic status following combined exercise and turmeric supplementation: a clinical trial in middle-aged women with hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetes.

Background: Aerobic training (AT) and Turmeric Supplementation (TS) are known to exert multiple beneficial effects including metabolic status and Oxidative Stress. To our knowledge, data on the effects of AT and TS on metabolic status and oxidative stress biomarkers related to inflammation in subjects with Hyperlipidemic Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (HT2DM) are scarce.
Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of AT and TS on metabolic status and oxidative stress biomarkers related to inflammation in subjects with HT2DM.
Methods: This randomized single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 42 subjects with HT2DM, aged 45-60 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups; AT+TS (n = 11), AT+placebo (AT; n = 10), TS (n = 11), and Control+placebo (C; n = 10). The AT program consisted of 60-75% of Maximum heart rate (HRmax), 20-40 min/day, three days/week for eight weeks. The participants in the TS group consumed three 700 mg capsules/day containing turmeric powder for eight weeks. Metabolic status and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed at baseline and end of treatment. The data were analyzed through paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test at the signification level of P < 0.05.
Results: After eight weeks, significant improvements were observed in metabolic status, oxidative stress biomarkers and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the AT+TS, TS, and AT compared to C. Additionally, a significant decrease of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) Z scores (p = 0.001; p = 0.011), hs-CRP (p = 0.028; p = 0.041), Malondialdehyde (MAD) (p = 0.023; p = 0.001), and significantly higher Glutathione (GSH) (p = 0.003; p = 0.001), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) (p = 0.001; p = 0.001) compared to the AT and TS groups. The results also revealed a significant difference in terms of MetS Z scores (p = 0.001), hs-CRP (p = 0.018), MAD (p = 0.011), GSH (p = 0.001) and TAC (p = 0.025) between the AT and TS. Conclusions: The findings suggest that AT+TS improves metabolic status, oxidative stress biomarkers, and hs-CRP more effectively compared to TS or AT in middle-aged females with T2DM and hyperlipidemia. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Introduction

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a primary cause of mortality in both men and women, leading to over 7 million deaths each year [1]. It is widely accepted that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is also one of the important risk factors for CHD. The risk of CHD in patients with Hyperlipidemic T2DM (HT2DM) is doubled high than in non-diabetic patients [2]. Several studies showed a correlation between HT2DM, CHD, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with elevated oxidative stress biomarkers and high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) (3,4). Lifestyle changes (i.e., supplementation and exercise) are among the complementary therapeutic approaches in patients with HT2DM [1]. Convincing evidence showed that Aerobic Training (AT) has the potential to enhance weight loss, increase the Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) abundance, and improve metabolic status in these patients [2, 3]. Turmeric, with the scientific name of Curcuma longa, is used in traditional Chinese medicine [4] that contains polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins and is proposed to have anti-diabetic properties [5-7]. Turmeric Supplementation (TS), probably via improving Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) [8] and hs-CRP, plays an inhibitory role in the development of inflammation in different disease conditions [9]. Additionally, the basis of biological disorders in individuals with HT2DM is the development of inflammatory mediators [5, 10]. The results of studies on patients with HT2DM indicated significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), and improved metabolic status following TS [11, 12]. Various literature focused on the separate effects of both AT and TS in patients with HT2DM. While, scant studies so far have evaluated the effects of combined AT and TS, and none has compared the separate and interactional effects of AT and TS. Given the risk of exercising in sports facilities during the COVID-19 outbreak, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of combined AT and TS on metabolic status and oxidative stress biomarkers in HT2DM patients.

Methods

Participants and trial design

This is a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study that was performed in May–July 2021. The sample size was estimated at 36 using G. POWER 3.1 software (power = .99, alpha = 0.05, and effect size = 0.85), but we selected 44 middle-aged (40–60 years) women with HT2DM from the Diabetes Center of Taleghani Hospital, Kermanshah to be more conservative. Then, they were randomly assigned to: AT+TS (n = 11), AT+placebo (AT; n = 11), TS (n = 11), and control+placebo (C; n = 11). All participants had the same chance of being selected and divided into groups using a numbered list and a Random Number Generator. One participant in AT and one in C refused to continue the research (Fig. 1). The inclusion criteria included; diagnosed HT2DM, FBG > 126, Triglycerides (TG) >150 mg/dL, and 25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 [13]. The exclusion criteria included; being infected with COVID-19 during the study period, regular exercise schedule, history of orthopedic disorders, muscle injuries, smoking, consumption of immunosuppressive drugs, antioxidants, and multivitamin supplements, within the past three months, irregular attendance in the study protocol, and the test sessions, and inability to perform the exercises.

Fig. 1

The process of sampling. AT+TS: aerobic training + turmeric supplement; AT: aerobic training group; TS: turmeric supplement group; C: control group

Aerobic training

The participants of AT+TS and AT groups were required to exercise for eight weeks. All training sessions were supervised by exercise physiologists.

Based on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines [14], the exercise program consisted of three days of AT per week started at 60% of Maximum heart rate (HRmax) and 20 min per session and gradually 75% of HRmax and 40 min (Table 1). Ten minutes warm-up and a Ten minutes cool-down were also executed each session. We used the HRmax formula [HRmax = 220 − age] to determine the target heart rate at the outset [15]. The participants were taught the pulse palpation method to count their heart rate in the training session. Furthermore, to assure achieving and maintaining the desired heart rate (exercise intensity) during the AT phase, a 6–20 Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale was also used (Table 1) [16].

Table 1

The walking AT phase protocol

Variables	Week
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Intensity (HRMax)	60–65%	60–65%	60–65%	65–70%	65–70%	65–70%	70–75%	70–75%
Time (min)	20	25	30	30	35	35	40	40
Borg scale	10	10	11	11	12	12	13	13

Turmeric supplement

The participants were requested to consume the same amounts of food and macronutrient composition one day before blood sampling both at the pre-test and post-test. Using the results of the previous studies, the AT+TS and TS groups were given three capsules/day containing 700 mg (a total of 2100 mg per day) of turmeric powder with main meals for eight weeks [17]. The turmeric powder was prepared in Dineh Pharmaceutical Company, Iran. Meanwhile, C and AT consumed placebo capsules containing cornstarch flour with similar color, shape, and taste.

Measurements

The participants got acquainted with the study procedure three days before the intervention. The participants were asked to avoid participating in intensive physical activities and taking diuretics 48 h before the test. Then, height to the nearest 0.5 cm using a stadiometer (DETECTO, Model 3PHTROD-WM, USA); Waist Circumference (WC) to the nearest 0.5 cm with a non-elastic tape measure; and bodyweight by the INBODY test using bioelectric impedance analysis (Zeus 9.9 PLUS; Jawon Medical Co., Ltd., Kungsang Bukdo, South Korea) were measured at the beginning and the end of the study at 8–9 A.M. after an at least 12-h fasting.

Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) were measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer (Missouri) and stethoscope (Rappaport GF Health Products, Northeast Parkway Atlanta) by the same person. The appearance of Korotkoff sounds was considered as SBP while DBP was determined at the disappearance point of these sounds.

Blood sampling

Twenty cc of antecubital vein blood was sampled using an anticoagulant-treated syringe, 48 h before the first (pre-test) and after the last training sessions (post-test) in a 12-h fasting condition. Then the samples were centrifuged for 10 min at 3000 rpm using a centrifugal separator, the serum was extracted from the cellular components, poured into a storage tube, and stored at −70 °C until analysis. TG and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) were measured using Hitachi kits (Tokyo, Japan) enzymatically. Besides, FBG via the enzymatic method (Pars Azmun Kit, Iran), hs-CRP levels via ELISA method (LDN; DM E-4600 Tags code, Nordhorn: Germany; inter-assay and intra-assay CVs below 7%.) [18], TAC via Benzie and Strain [19] technique (inter-assay and intraassay CVs lower than 5%.), Glutathione (GSH) via the procedure described by Beutler et al. [20], and MDA by a spectrophotometric method [21] (inter-assay and intra-assay CVs lower than 5%). The results of MetS components including WC, fasting glucose, SBP, HDL, cholesterol, and TG were used to compute MetS z score (via http://mets.health-outcomes-policy.ufl.edu/calculator/) [22].

Data analysis

The statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS software, version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). All the data have been presented as mean and standard deviation. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to check the normal distribution of the continuous variables. Between-group comparisons were made using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc test. Within-group comparisons were also made using paired sample t-test. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Table 2a shows the between-group comparisons of metabolic status (WC, FBG, TG, HDL, SBP, and DBP) among participants. Based on the results of the t-test there are significant differences in the means of (WC, FBG, TG, HDL, SBP, and DBP) in the post-test compared to the pre-test. After eight weeks, WC, FBG, TG, SBP, and DBP significantly decreased and HDL significantly increased in the AT+TS, AT, and TS, however in the C these alterations were reversed.

Table 2a

Mean ± SD of metabolic status in the study groups before the intervention

Variables	AT + TS (n = 11)	AT (n = 10)	TS (n = 11)	C (n = 10)	P value
Age (years)	43.02 ± 3.04	42.13 ± 2.39	44.33 ± 1.23	44.22 ± 3.07	0.336
Height (cm)	160.12 ± 4.11	163.13 ± 3.03	159.24 ± 2.79	161.13 ± 5.08	0.393
Bodyweight (Kg)	73.12 ± 2.91	75.13 ± 2.07	74.13 ± 2.68	75.09 ± 3.20	0.089
WC (cm)
Before	97.10 ± 2.12	95.25 ± 2.02	97.37 ± 1.12	96.77 ± 1.41
After	89.23 ± 3.03	90.11 ± 1.83	95.22 ± 1.54	98.23 ± 2.17
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.021*	0.034*
Δ	−7.88 ± 0.91 μ€β	−5.14 ± 0.19 €β	−2.15 ± 0.42 β	1.46 ± 0.76	0.001 ¥
FBG (mg/dl)
Before	152.80 ± 1.75	155.11 ± 1.48	155.08 ± 2.04	153.40 ± 2.50
After	134.50 ± 2.36	141.54 ± 2.11	147.45 ± 2.06	158.60 ± 1.84
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.001*	0.002*
Δ	−18.30 ± 0.61 μ€β	−13.57 ± 0.63 €β	−7.63 ± 0.02 β	5.20 ± 0.66	0.001 ¥
TG (mg/dl)
Before	181.18 ± 5.28	184.02 ± 6.76	181.69 ± 7.04	183.23 ± 4.51
After	164.11 ± 2.23	173.11 ± 2.33	177.86 ± 4.13	186.22 ± 2.88
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.001*	0.001*
Δ	−17.07 ± 3.05 μ€β	−10.91 ± 4.43 €β	−3.83 ± 2.91 β	2.99 ± 1.63	0.011 ¥
HDL (mg/dl)
Before	33.19 ± 4.07	31.13 ± 2.86	32.17 ± 2.66	32.22 ± 2.15
After	43.21 ± 3.45	38.05 ± 1.02	36.55 ± 1.82	30.19 ± 1.44
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.001*	0.002*
Δ	10.02 ± 0.62 μ€β	6.92 ± 1.84 β	4.38 ± 0.84 β	−2.03 ± 0.71	0.021 ¥
SBP (mg/dl)
Before	133.09 ± 4.12	134.03 ± 2.27	131.02 ± 3.16	132.02 ± 2.75
After	124.12 ± 3.87	128.05 ± 2.23	128.04 ± 2.32	133.75 ± 3.16
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.021*	0.041*
Δ	−8.97 ± 0.25 μ€β	−5.98 ± 0.04 €β	−2.98 ± 0.84 β	1.73 ± 0.41	0.002 ¥
DBP (mg/dl)
Before	87.11 ± 3.10	88.05 ± 1.97	86.06 ± 2.11	86.04 ± 1.25
After	82.10 ± 1.80	84.15 ± 2.33	84.03 ± 1.39	87.79 ± 1.14
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.021*	0.041*
Δ	−5.01 ± 1.30 μ€β	−3.90 ± 0.36 €β	−2.03 ± 0.72 β	1.75 ± 0.11	0.002 ¥

AT + TS aerobic training + turmeric supplement, AT aerobic training group, TS turmeric supplement group, C control group, WC Waist Circumference, FBG Fasting Blood Glucose, TG Triglycerides, HDL High-Density Lipoprotein, SBP Systolic Blood Pressure, DBP Diastolic Blood Pressure

*Data analysis was done by the analysis of ANOVA and the least significant difference post-hoc Bonferroni test after adjustment for baseline values

P†: Statistical analysis was done by paired sample t-test

*: Significantly different in within-group comparisons in the pretest and posttest

¥: Significantly different comparing Δ between groups

μ: Significantly different compared to AT

€: Significantly different compared to TS

β: Significantly different compared to C

The results of ANOVA revealed significant differences among the study groups regarding metabolic status. The results of the Bonferroni post hoc test showed that WC, FBG, TG, HDL, SBP, and DBP changes were significant in the AT+TS, AT, and TS groups compared to the C group. The results indicate significant differences between AT+TS compared to AT and TS groups; lower WC, FBG, TG, SBP, and DBP, but higher HDL. The results also showed a significantly lower WC, FBG, TG, SBP, and DBP in AT compared to TS however, HDL was not significantly different (p = 0.440) (Table 2b).

Table 2b

Mean ± SD of oxidative of stress biomarkers and hs-CRP in the study groups before the intervention

Variables	AT + TS (n = 11)	AT (n = 10)	TS (n = 11)	C (n = 10)	P value
MDA (μmol/L)
Before	2.36 ± 0.07	2.35 ± 0.16	2.42 ± 0.06	2.31 ± 0.14
After	1.93 ± 0.13	2.11 ± 0.13	2.23 ± 0.17	2.41 ± 0.11
P†	0.001*	0.013*	0.018*	0.029*
Δ	−0.57 ± 0.06 μ€β	−0.24 ± 0.03 €β	−0.19 ± 0.11 β	0.10 ± 0.03	0.001 ¥
GSH (μmol/L)
Before	426.14 ± 21.07	418.08 ± 11.05	412.17 ± 27.20	432.18 ± 16.04
After	526.11 ± 15.30	496.05 ± 16.65	460.18 ± 24.29	409.12 ± 5.14
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.012*	0.025*
Δ	99.97 ± 5.74 μ€β	77.97 ± 5.6 €β	48.01 ± 3.09 β	−23.06 ± 10.9	0.001 ¥
TAC (mmol/L)
Before	850.11 ± 21.68	830.15 ± 27.27	810.13 ± 34.13	860.15 ± 18.19
After	940.04 ± 12.23	890.16 ± 11.25	860.24 ± 14.06	827.14 ± 6.04
P†	0.001*	0.001*	0.002*	0.004*
Δ	89.93 ± 9.45 μ€β	60.01 ± 0.12 €β	50.11 ± 20.07 β	−33.01 ± 12.15	0.001 ¥
hs-CRP (mg/L)
Before	2.77 ± 0.15	2.88 ± 0.16	2.80 ± 0.23	2.85 ± 0.08
After	2.50 ± 0.10	2.69 ± 0.21	2.70 ± 0.25	2.94 ± 0.12
P†	0.001*	0.021*	0.027*	0.037*
Δ	−0.27 ± 0.05 μ€β	−0.19 ± 0.05 €β	−0.10 ± 0.02 β	0.09 ± 0.04	0.001 ¥

AT + TS aerobic training + turmeric supplement, AT aerobic training group, TS turmeric supplement group, C control group, MDA Malondialdehyde, GSH Glutathione, TAC Total Antioxidant Capacity, hs-CRP high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

*Data analysis was done by the analysis of ANOVA and the least significant difference post-hoc Bonferroni test after adjustment for baseline values

P†: Statistical analysis was done by paired sample t-test

*: Significantly different in within-group comparisons in the pretest and posttest

¥: Significantly different comparing Δ between groups

μ: Significantly different compared to AT

€: Significantly different compared to TS

β: Significantly different compared to C

The results of ANOVA revealed significant differences among the study groups regarding MetS Z scores. The results of the Bonferroni post-hoc test showed that the MetS Z score was significantly lower in the AT+TS (p = 0.001), AT (p = 0.001), and TS (p = 0.001) groups compared to the C group. The MetS Z score was significantly lower in AT+TS compared to AT (p = 0.023), and TS (p = 0.001). The results also showed significantly lower MetS Z scores in AT compared to TS (p = 0.023) (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

Effect of 8-week and TS on of MetS Z scores in MS patients. P value was obtained from One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Data are means ± standard deviation. AT+TS: aerobic training + turmeric supplement; AT: aerobic training group; TS: turmeric supplement group; C: control group

As detailed in Table 2b, the results revealed a significant improvement in MDA, GSH, TAC, and hs-CRP in AT+TS, AT, and TS comparing the pretest to the posttest. Additionally, the results of ANOVA show significant differences among the study groups concerning MDA, GSH, TAC, and hs-CRP. Accordingly, a significant difference was found between the AT+ST, AT, and TS groups and the C group regarding MDA, GSH, TAC, and hs-CRP. Besides, the AT+TS group had significantly lower MDA (p = 0.001; p = 0.001), and hs-CRP (p = 0.028; p = 0.041) and significantly higher GSH (p = 0.003; p = 0.001), and TAC (p = 0.001; p = 0.001) compared to the AT and TS; respectively. Furthermore, significantly lower MDA (p = 0.011) and hs-CRP and significantly higher (p = 0.018) GSH (p = 0.001) and TAC (p = 0.025) were observed compared to TS.

Discussion

The results of the present study indicated that eight weeks of intervention improved metabolic status in females with HT2DM; although this improvement was significant in the AT and TS, it was significantly higher in the AT+TS. However, a significant increase was found in the metabolic status in C. In the same line, Bacchi et al. (2012) Saghebjoo et al. (2018) [23], and Jiang et al. (2020) [24] stated that reported that resistance training, similarly to AT, improves metabolic status, anthropometric indices, and insulin sensitivity in T2DM patients. [25]. Consistent with the results of the present study, Adab et al. (2019) reported that the daily consumption of 2100 mg of turmeric powder (700 mg capsules) resulted in a significant improvement in body measurement indices, glycemic condition, and lipid profile in patients with HT2DM [26]. Ho et al. (2012) also assessed the anti-obesity effects of turmeric in obese rats and revealed a significant reduction in weight [27].

Eight weeks of combined AT+TS has been associated with improved MetS z score in females with HT2DM. Hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridemia via disturbing the glycation of lipoproteins and a lot of other unfavorable effects accelerate HT2DM [28]. AT however affects the insulin secretion, transduction of insulin receptor signals, and inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases [29]. AT plays an important role in stabilizing the insulin via increasing phosphorylated β subunit of the insulin receptor that enhances the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) which in turn enables the GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport into the cells [29]. TS, as a crucial cofactor modulating hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase enzyme and enzymatic processes requiring adenosine triphosphate, also has a pivotal role in glucose and lipoprotein metabolism [30].

The results of the current study showed significant changes in the oxidative stress biomarker in AT, TS, and AT+TS including downregulated hs-CRP and MAD, and upregulated GSH and TAC in favor of AT+TS after eight weeks. Improved oxidative stress biomarkers following AT is well known as observed in our study, however, the underlying mechanisms need to be elucidated [31-33].

Several studies show that the protective effect of longer-term AT on oxidative stress might, to some extent, be ascribed to reduce chronic inflammation which is also associated with a negative energy balance [34]. Data in pathological conditions, such as HT2DM, have highlighted the idea that AT can decrease inflammatory and/or increase anti-inflammatory cytokines levels [32]. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP have also been reported by de Lemos et al., demonstrating the anti-inflammatory capacity of AT in diabetic ZDF rats [35, 36]. Furthermore, AT improve the inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers by enhancing skeletal muscle and adipose tissue [37-39], as endocrine tissues, expressing both Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and adipokines/myokines [40, 41].

TS develops antidiabetic properties via various mechanisms of action including inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, insulin secretion, and reducing oxidative stress that the latter was also observed in this study [7]. Also, TS is believed to inhibit nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells activation, decrease intercellular adhesion molecule, cyclooxygenase-2, and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and reduce intrahepatic monocyte chemoattracting protein-1gene, CD11b, procollagen type I, and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor expression which in turn reduce oxidative stress and improve inflammation [7, 42, 43]. Moreover, TS affects adiposity and lipid metabolism by modulating energy metabolism and inflammation [44]. Additionally, TS is shown to have hypocholesterolemic properties [45, 46]; reducing plasma TG and cholesterol [47].

The strengths of the present study were the successful blinding of the participants, accurate control of AT intensity, and a high rate of compliance (all the participants reported that they had taken capsules through the study). However, one of the study’s limitations was that it was a short-term trial, and it is unknown whether longer durations of supplementation could cause further improvements. Additionally, the impact of different doses was not investigated in this research. Finally, the small number of participants could affect the generalizability of the results.

Conclusion

Based on the findings, AT+TS is recommended as a convincing lifestyle approach due to its great effect on metabolic status, oxidative stress biomarkers, and CRP in middle-aged females with T2DM. Yet, further studies are suggested to determine the most efficient TS dose and exercise type (High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT), and Low-Intensity Continuous Training (LICT)) in different age groups in the long run.