Attenuation of Inflammatory Markers in Plasma of Obese Mice by Caloric Restriction (CR) and Combined Curcumin (Cur) and Piperine (Pip) Supplementation

Dietary compounds capable of improving metabolic profiles would be of great value, especially for overweight individuals undergoing a CR regimen. Cur, a possible anti‐obesity compound, and Pip, an anti‐inflammatory agent and plausible enhancer of Cur bioavailability, may emerge as bioactive compounds to modulate energy metabolism. In our previous study, single treatment with Cur or Pip plus CR had no effect on body weight reduction, or in percent body fat. However, the combined Cur and Pip treatment reduced percent of total body fat as measured by MRI without having significant effect on total body weight, plasma glucose and insulin levels. Here, we focused on inflammatory markers in plasma of the obese mice under CR. CR obese mice with both Cur and Pip supplementation showed significantly lower IL‐1β and KC/GRO. Hence, these cytokines would be attenuated by anti‐inflammatory activity of Pip itself or possibly by additive anti‐inflammatory property of Pip with CR and/or Cur. The decrease in these cytokines may not have direct relation with the modifying effect of Pip on Cur metabolism, since chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry showed that there were virtually no differences in Cur metabolite levels in plasma of CR obese mice fed Cur alone or together with Pip. Our results provide new insight to further investigate mechanisms by which inclusion of Cur and/or Pip in the diet may enhance metabolic profiles of CR. Supported by USDA contract 58‐1950‐0‐014.