Turmeric (Curcuma longa) whole powder reduces accumulation of visceral fat mass and increases hepatic oxidative stress in rats fed a high-fat diet

Turmeric powder (TP) containing approximately 5.15% curcumin was evaluated for reduction of development of high-fat diet-induced obesity. Rats were fed a 30% fat diet containing 5, 10, and 20 g of TP/100 g of diet (TP-5, TP-10, and TP-20 groups) for 30 days. Body weight gain, energy intake, and the visceral fat mass for the TP-10 and TP-20 groups were lower than for the control group. Serum triglyceride and hepatic total lipid levels for the TP-10 and TP-20 groups were lower than for the control group. The hepatic glutathione concentration and the glutathione-S-transferase activity for all TP groups, and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level for the TP-20 group, were higher than for the control group. A high dose of turmeric powder apparently reduces development of high-fat diet-induced obesity, but also causes the adverse effect of increasing oxidative stress in rats.