Effect of Curcumin on Growth Performance, Inflammation, Insulin level, and Lipid Metabolism in Weaned Piglets with IUGR

Abstract

The possible causes of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) might stem from placental insufficiency, maternal malnutrition, inflammation in utero, and other causes. IUGR has had an adverse influence on human health and animal production. Forty weaned piglets with normal birth weights (NBWs) or IUGR were randomly divided into four treatments groups: NBW, NC (NBW with curcumin supplementation), IUGR, and IC (IUGR with curcumin supplementation) from 26 to 50 d. Levels of cytokines, glucose, and lipid metabolism were evaluated. IUGR piglets showed slow growth during the experiment. Piglets with IUGR showed higher levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Curcumin supplementation reduced the production of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, attenuated insulin resistance and hepatic triglyceride, and enhanced the hepatic glycogen concentrations and lipase activities of IUGR piglets. The hepatic mRNA expressions of the insulin-signaling pathway and lipogenic pathway were influenced by IUGR and were positively attenuated by diets supplemented with curcumin. In conclusion, IUGR caused slow growth, insulin resistance, and increased hepatic lipid levels. Diets supplemented with curcumin improved growth, attenuated insulin resistance, and reduced lipid levels in the liver by regulating the hepatic gene expressions of the related signaling pathway in IUGR piglets.

The Multifaced Actions of Curcumin in Pregnancy Outcome

“…Similar results were obtained using FGR pigs induced by low protein diet integrated with curcumin [30,141,142]. In this study curcumin was able to increase piglets' growth, to decrease hepatic lipid levels and insulin resistance.…”

“…The placenta has a multifaceted role in the normal development of humans and mammals in general, playing essential functions during pregnancy [ 22 , 23 ]. Its importance is evident when placental development is impaired, leading pathological conditions such as Preeclampsia (PE) [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) [ 28 , 29 , 30 ], PreTerm Birth (PTB) [ 31 , 32 , 33 ], Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) [ 34 , 35 ], pregnancy loss [ 36 , 37 , 38 ] and more serious pathologies such as e.g., choriocarcinoma [ 39 ]. In addition, normal placental development could be impaired by exposure to toxic agents, virus and bacteria [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ] as in chorioamnionitis.…”

Curcumin, Curcumin Nanoparticles and Curcumin Nanospheres: A Review on Their Pharmacodynamics Based on Monogastric Farm Animal, Poultry and Fish Nutrition

“…Recently, there are a significant number of research works have been conducted on curcumin or curcumin nanoparticles alone or in combination with other additives in the diet of monogastric farm animals and poultry as well as fish (Figure 1) [14,31,[63][64][65][66][67][68][69]. Most of the studies dealt with growth enhancement, improvement of reproductive health and metabolism, antioxidants and immunomodulatory effects of curcumin or curcumin nanoparticles.…”

Natural Products as Protective Agents for Male Fertility

“…It presents a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities [22], such as neuroprotective, anti-ageing [23], anti-microbial [24], anti-inflammatory [25,26], antitumor [27,28], and antioxidant [29,30] properties. The phenolic-OH group present in curcumin and β diketone derivatives can react with ROS and are powerful radical scavengers [31,32].…”