Purpose: This experimental study investigated the effects of curcuma supplementation on weight gain, Body Adiposity Index, glucose and lipid profile, and liver and pancreas histology in C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet.
Methods: 40 animals were separated into four groups: standard diet (SD), standard diet plus curcuma (SD + C), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet plus curcuma (HFD + C). Curcuma dose was 8 mg/animal/day. Histological and biochemical analyses were performed at the end of the experimental period.
Results: Curcuma prevented weight gain, despite a higher food intake, and increased brown adipose tissue weight only in mice receiving standard diet. However, these changes were not observed in HFD + C group. The groups that received curcuma (SD + C and HFD + C) showed a pancreas with diffuse macro- and microgoticular steatosis.
Conclusions: Curcuma supplementation did not prevent weight gain or improved glucose and lipid profile in mice receiving high-fat diet. Furthermore, there was evidence of possible curcuma toxicity in the pancreas of C57BL/6 mice. The implications of these findings on humans still need to be investigated.
Keywords: C57BL/6 mice; Curcuma; Phytotherapy; Toxicity; Weight gain.