Curcumin, curry ingredient, helps cut diabetes risk, says study

Curcumin, a component of curry, was found to cut the risk of type 2 diabetes in a new study.

Researchers at the University of Nakomnayok in Thailand found that regular supplements containing curcumin prevented people from getting adult-onset diabetes, often called type 2.

Reuters said that the study used 240 Thai adults who were pre-diabetic.

They separated the groups into those receiving curcumin supplements and those receiving a placebo.

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EMax Health reported that after nine months, 19 of the 116 placebo patients had developed type 2 diabetes.

Astonishingly none of the 119 people taking curcumin developed the disease.

Previous studies have found the spice to be useful in fighting inflammation and repairing oxidative damage in the body, said Reuters.

Researchers warn that this does not mean curcumin is a cure-all in terms of diabetes.

The quality of curcumin used and the small size of the study shows the need for further study into the promising spice.

The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care.