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

A new study published in the journal of BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology showed that both fenofibrate and curcumin effectively reduce lipid levels and improve inflammation in type 2 diabetes patients. However fenofibrate may offer additional benefits by more significantly reducing waist circumference, lowering fetuin-A levels, and increasing sirtuin levels.

One known risk factor for the onset of cardiovascular disease is type 2 diabetes. It was discovered that fenofibrate and curcumin were useful in reducing hyperlipidemia in diabetic individuals. This study compared the effects of adding fenofibrate against curcumin on weight, lipid profile, glycemic status, fetuin-A, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and sirtuin 1, in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving glimepiride,.

3 groups of 60 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned in this trial, where Group I received a placebo, Group II received 1100 mg of curcumin, and Group III received 160 mg of fenofibrate, all taken orally once daily. Glimepiride 4 mg was given orally once daily for three months.

The patients between the ages of 35 and 70, those with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, those with hyperlipidemia, and those receiving glimepiride 4 mg were all eligible to participate. Other forms of diabetes, pregnancy, bad liver or kidney function tests, taking other anti-diabetic drugs, and non-adherence to treatment were among the exclusion criteria.

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