Efeitos da curcumina no diabetes tipo 2: estudo de revisão

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, associated with insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, in addition to being strongly related to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Given the limitations of conventional treatment, interest in complementary therapeutic approaches based on natural compounds is growing. This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the effects of curcumin, the main bioactive component of Curcuma longa, in the control of T2DM, with emphasis on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic mechanisms. The research consisted of a narrative review of the literature, with a search for publications carried out in the scientific databases PubMed, SciELO, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Elsevier, between the years 2012 and 2024, using specific keywords such as “curcumin”, “turmeric”, “type 2 diabetes mellitus” and “glycemic control”. Preclinical and clinical studies that investigated the influence of curcumin on relevant metabolic parameters, such as glycemia, inflammation and insulin resistance, were selected. Evidence indicates that curcumin supplementation can reduce fasting glucose, improve glycated hemoglobin levels, increase insulin sensitivity and decrease inflammatory markers, especially when associated with physical activity. Curcumin has also shown potential in preventing the progression of prediabetes to T2DM. This narrative review reinforces the potential of curcumin as an adjunctive therapy in the management of type 2 diabetes and highlights the need for further clinical studies to validate its long-term efficacy and safety.