A recent study from Urmia University of Medical Sciences suggests that turmeric compounds and vitamin D may help improve blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes.
Turmeric has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, especially in Asian countries. It contains curcuminoids, active compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting properties. Among them, curcumin has been widely studied for its potential to reduce inflammation and protect against cancer and tumors.
Vitamin D, on the other hand, is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in bone health by helping the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It is also a hormone that the body produces naturally.
Beyond bone health, research has shown that vitamin D may help control infections, reduce inflammation, and even slow cancer cell growth. Many organs and tissues in the body have receptors for vitamin D, suggesting it has important roles beyond what we currently understand.
While previous studies have shown that both curcuminoids and vitamin D can lower blood pressure and improve body weight in diabetic animals, research on their effects in people with type 2 diabetes has been limited.
To explore this further, researchers conducted a study with 80 participants who had type 2 diabetes and low vitamin D levels. The participants were divided into four groups. Each group received either curcuminoids, vitamin D, a combination of both, or a placebo for 12 weeks.
At the beginning and end of the study, researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure. They found that vitamin D lowered both systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number). Curcuminoids, however, mainly reduced diastolic blood pressure.
Interestingly, when taken together, curcuminoids appeared to block the effect of vitamin D on reducing systolic blood pressure. However, the combination of the two still worked well in lowering diastolic blood pressure.
The researchers concluded that both curcuminoids and vitamin D may help control blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes, but more studies are needed to understand why they affect systolic and diastolic blood pressure differently.
For those looking to increase their intake of these beneficial compounds, turmeric, curry powder, and mango ginger are rich in curcuminoids. Foods high in vitamin D include salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, canned tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms, and fortified foods like milk and cereals.
This study was conducted by Shirin Ebrahimkhani and her team and published in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
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