Curcumin Product Found to Improve Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Indena

06 Jun 2017 --- A recent randomized controlled clinical trial has shown that Indena’s bioavailable curcumin formulation, Meriva, may improve the health status in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as assessed by multiple liver parameters. This is the first clinical study investigating the effects, efficacy and safety of curcumin phytosome supplementation in fatty liver disorders, Indena reports. 

The study aimed to assess the effects on metabolic profile in subjects with NAFLD. Eighty-seven subjects diagnosed with grades 1-3 (according to liver sonography) were enrolled and randomly assigned to curcumin (1000 mg per day in 2 divided doses) (n = 44) or control (n = 43) group for a period of 8 weeks. Supplementation with Meriva was associated with reductions in BMI (P = 0.003) and waist circumference (P < 0.024). 

Consistent with the findings of liver ultrasonography, serum levels of AST and ALT were reduced by the end of trial in the curcumin group (respectively from 35.46±22.97 to 24.85±12.84 and from 27.63±11.35 to 20.68±6.65, P < 0.001) but elevated in the placebo group (respectively from 36.81±24.32 to 41.33±23.97 and from 27.44±10.01 to 31.23±12.80, P < 0.001). The effect of curcumin in reducing serum AST (P < 0.001) and ALT (P < 0.001) levels was also significant in the between-group comparison. Likewise, ultrasonographic findings improved in 75% of subjects in the curcumin group while the rate of improvement in the control group was 4.7% (P < 0.001). 

Furthermore, supplementation with Meriva was associated with a reduction of serum levels of total cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P < 0.001), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.001), and uric acid (P < 0.001). No safety and tolerability issues were reported during the eight weeks of treatment.

“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common chronic liver disorder in the Western Countries, affecting 30% of the general adult population, up to 60-70% in diabetic and obese patients,” says Antonella Riva, Product Research Manager at Indena. “This is the first clinical study investigating the effects of Meriva in improving liver health; the positive results we obtained show that our bioavailable curcumin formulation may help to improve the health status in these subjects. Our commitment in Research and Development drives us to explore important goals to fulfill the unmet and increasing health needs deriving from modern lifestyle conditions.”

Indena recently launched its latest innovation for natural digestive relief. Prodigest is a patented combination of two standardized ingredients: a unique extract of artichoke leaves (Cynara cardunculus L.) and a similarly unique lipophilic CO2 extract of ginger roots (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). NutritionInsight spoke with Riva about the product during a video interview at Vitafoods Europe.