Inflammation
Nano-curcumin (80 mg/day) cuts Lp(a) and hs-CRP over 90 days in 64 type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease, an RCT (Biofactors 2023)
Original title: Three months of combination therapy with nano-curcumin reduces the inflammation and lipoprotein (a) in type 2 diabetic patients with mild to moderate coronary artery disease: Evidence of a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial
In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 64 patients with type 2 diabetes and mild-to-moderate coronary artery disease (less than 70% stenosis) received nano-curcumin 80 mg/day or placebo alongside optimal medications for 90 days. Nano-curcumin significantly reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Lp(a) levels from baseline (P<0.001 and P=0.043, respectively), and the percentage change in both markers was significantly greater with nano-curcumin than placebo (P<0.001 and P=0.007, respectively). Nano-curcumin also shifted patients toward milder hs-CRP risk categories, with 3.125% remaining in the severe category versus more in the placebo group (P=0.016). The findings suggest nano-curcumin could be a useful adjunct to reduce inflammatory and Lp(a)-related cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease.
Original abstract
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. Systemic inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)) and lipid metabolism disruption (lipoprotein A, LipoPr (a)) play a critical role in developing and progressing atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome in diabetic patients. The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been emphasized previously. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of nano-curcumin on cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients with mild to moderate coronary artery disease (CAD). We performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial with type 2 diabetic patients (n = 64), and mild to moderate CAD (<70% stenosis in angiography). The patients received nano-curcumin (80 mg/day) or placebo along with optimal medications for 90 days. The biofactors, including hs-CRP and LipoPr (a), and lipid profile, were measured at the admission of patients and end of the study. Nano-curcumin significantly mitigated the hs-CRP and LipoPr (a) levels following 90 days of treatment (P < 0.001 and P = 0.043, respectively). In addition, the mean percentage of change (%Δ) in the hs-CRP and LipoPr (a) levels were meaningfully reduced in the nano-curcumin group compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively). Surprisingly, nano-curcumin notably propagated the number of patients with mild (34.35%) and moderate (62.5%) hs-CRP level category and strikingly diminished the number of patients with severe hs-CRP level category (3.125%) compared to the placebo group (P = 0.016). Nano-curcumin (80 mg/day) might prevent atherosclerosis progression and, in terms of attenuating hs-CRP levels as an inflammation index, succedent cardiovascular events in diabetic heart patients.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.