A recent study by the researchers at Columbia University revealed that turmeric plays a major role in the prevention of Type-2 diabetes.

The endocrinologists discovered that turmeric-treated mice were less susceptible to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, the researchers also found that obese mice that were given turmeric showed considerably reduced inflammation in fat tissue and liver as compared to controls.

The researchers believe that curcumin, the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant ingredient present in turmeric, diminishes insulin resistance and prevents Type 2 diabetes in these mouse models by weakening the inflammatory reaction aroused by obesity.

Turmeric, an Asian spice found in many curries, has a long history of use in reducing inflammation, healing wounds and relieving pain.

Dr. Drew Tortoriello, M.D., Ph.D. and Rudolph Leibel, M.D. and their fellow workers examined high- dosages of a dietary curcumin in two different mouse models of obesity and Type 2 diabetes: high-fat-diet-fed male mice and leptin-deficient obese female mice.

The lean wild-type mice were fed low-fat diets and used as controls.

In the past, researchers from Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center have found that the ‘cytokine’ molecules, produced by immune cells called as macrophages, lead to heart inflammation and islets of the pancreas, plus raising insulin resistance in muscle and liver. Researchers supposed that by inhibiting the number and action of these cells, with turmeric or a drug with similar actions, it may be possible to decrease some of the adverse consequences of obesity.

“It’s too early to tell whether increasing dietary curcumin [through turmeric] intake in obese people with diabetes will show a similar benefit,” Dr. Tortoriello said.

“Although the daily intake of curcumin one might have to consume as a primary diabetes treatment is likely impractical, it is entirely possible that lower dosages of curcumin could nicely complement our traditional therapies as a natural and safe treatment.”

Therefore the study researchers reason out that the anti-oxidant curcumin and turmeric can act as a controller for blood sugar level and metabolism and inflammatory and metabolic problems in obesity as well as Type 2 diabetes.

The study findings will be published in the paper ‘Endocrinology’ and were presented at ENDO 2008, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco this week.