Curcumin supplementation combined with high intensity interval training modulates serum irisin and lipid profile in obese women: "A randomized double-blind clinical trial"
Question
Does curcumin supplementation with or without HIIT change serum irisin and lipid profile in obese women?
Summary
In inactive obese women, 8 weeks of HIIT, curcumin, or the combination improved serum irisin and lipid measures compared with placebo. The trial was small and the abstract wording about who completed HIIT conflicted with the methods, so the exercise arms should be interpreted from the full methods.
Methodology
- Forty inactive obese women aged 30-35 years.
- 40 participants.
- Running/walking.
- Work intervals: 20 seconds running.
- Recovery: Walking recovery, 160 seconds progressing to 100 seconds.
- Intensity: 80%-100% HRR.
- 44-68 minutes reported in protocol table; plus warm-up/cool-down interpretation unclear.
- 4 sessions/week.
- 8 weeks.
- Randomized double-blind clinical trial with four groups
- Irisin, and Lipids were tracked.
Outcomes
Irisin
Irisin increased in exercise plus curcumin, exercise plus placebo, and curcumin groups versus placebo.
ANCOVA p=.012; within-group p=.001 for exercise arms and p=.049 for curcumin.
Lipids
Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL decreased and HDL increased in active intervention groups compared with placebo.
ANCOVA: cholesterol p=.009, TG p=.011, LDL p=.008, HDL p=.001.
Insights
- Short 20-second running intervals can be progressed by increasing set count and shortening walking recovery.
- Supplement co-interventions need separate labeling from exercise programming claims.
Limitations
- Small sample.
- Narrow age range and women only.
- Optimal curcumin dose unknown.
- Adherence and adverse events were not clearly reported.
- Abstract wording conflicted with full-methods group descriptions about who completed HIIT.
Safety
- No adverse events, injuries, or dropout/adherence rates were reported. Safety/context details reported: 55 volunteers were screened to 40 randomized participants, exclusions included cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, musculoskeletal or metabolic diseases limiting physical activity, spice allergies, smoking, alcohol, drugs, and supplements; possible risks were explained before consent and physical-health forms, and exercise HR was monitored by Polar device in a controlled gym setting.