Both Fenofibrate and Curcumin Improve Lipid and Inflammatory Markers in Type 2 Diabetes: Study

Anthropometric measures were taken at baseline and three months into the intervention, and blood samples were taken for biochemical examination of lipid profile, fetuin-A, sirtuin 1, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose, hs-CRP, and fetuin. The body mass index, weight, two-hour postprandial glucose (2 h-PPG), fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c did not significantly differ among the three groups when compared 3 months after the intervention (p > 0.05).

The fenofibrate (p < 0.001) and curcumin (p < 0.05) groups showed significant reductions in triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), coronary risk index (CRI), atherogenic index (AI), and hs-CRP, while also increasing sirtuin 1.

The group that received fenofibrate had considerably greater levels of HDL-C than the group that received a placebo (p < 0.001). Also, fenofibrate significantly decreased waist circumferences and fetuin-A and elevated sirtuin 1 (p < 0.05) in comparison to curcumin.

Overall, in individuals with type II diabetes receiving glimepiride, the current trial demonstrated the significant advantages of adding fenofibrate as opposed to curcumin. When combined with glimepiride treatment, both medications improved the lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and glycemic picture.

Source:

Nada, E. M., El-Gharbawy, N. M., Abbas, H., & Werida, R. H. (2025). Effect of adding fenofibrate versus curcumin to glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 26(1), 119. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40360-025-00950-y