Turmeric and vitamin D may lower blood pressure in type 2 diabetes patients

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Introduction to Curcuminoids and Vitamin D

A recent study from Urmia University of Medical Sciences found that turmeric compounds and vitamin D supplementation may improve blood pressure health in people with type 2 diabetes.

Curcuminoids are the active ingredients in turmeric, which have been used for medicinal purposes for years in Asian countries.

Meanwhile, vitamin D is a nutrient that we eat and a hormone that our bodies make, which is critical for building bones, absorbing calcium, and phosphorus.

Previous Research on Curcuminoids and Vitamin D

Previous research has shown that curcuminoids and vitamin D can reduce inflammation, control infections, reduce cancer cell growth, and help maintain healthy bones.

However, consistent findings on their effects on blood pressure and body weight in type 2 diabetes patients are limited.

The Study and Results

The researchers tested 80 people with type 2 diabetes and insufficient vitamin D levels.

They divided the participants into four groups, and each group received either curcuminoids, vitamin D, a combination of both, or a placebo for 12 weeks.

The team measured blood pressure before and after the intervention and found that vitamin D reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while curcuminoids strongly reduced diastolic blood pressure.

Combining Curcuminoids and Vitamin D

Interestingly, the researchers also found that curcuminoids strongly prevented the effect of vitamin D on the reduction of systolic blood pressure.

However, vitamin D and curcuminoids had a combined effect on the reduction of diastolic blood pressure.

The team concludes that curcuminoids and vitamin D may have beneficial effects on blood pressure in individuals with type 2 diabetes, but further research is needed to determine why curcuminoids and vitamin D have different effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Foods Rich in Curcuminoids and Vitamin D

Foods that are high in curcuminoids include turmeric, mango ginger, curry powder, and curry dishes.

Meanwhile, foods high in vitamin D include salmon, herrings and sardines, cod liver oil, canned tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, and fortified foods.

Implications of the Study

This study suggests that turmeric compounds and vitamin D supplementation may help improve blood pressure health in people with type 2 diabetes.

However, more research is needed to determine the optimal dosages and the mechanism behind their effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

If you have type 2 diabetes, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best ways to manage your blood pressure, which may include a combination of medication and lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management techniques.

If you care about diabetes, please read studies that pomace olive oil could help lower blood cholesterol, and honey could help control blood sugar.

For more information about health, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing widely used diabetes drug metformin may reduce cognitive decline.

This study was conducted by Shirin Ebrahimkhani et al and published in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.

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