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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04705220

Effect of Nutritional Supplementation With Turmeric on the Cognitive Performance of Subjects With Metabolic Syndrome

The EPICURO study aims to demonstrate the beneficial effects of a 6-month dietary supplementation with an improved bioavailable turmeric (MERIVA®) on inflammatory, oxidative and metabolic parameters together with cognitive performance, potentially resulting in the reduction of the risk of cognitive decline in subjects, male and female, with Metabolic Syndrome. The results obtained will provide novel insights on MERIVA® for improving the prevention of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

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Key information

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Glucose Metabolism Disorders Hyperinsulinism Insulin Resistance Mental Disorders Metabolic Diseases Metabolic Syndrome Neurocognitive Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

S.C. di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"

Roma, 00168, Italy

About this study

This single-center trial will be a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, 2 parallel groups study. The subjects will be randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups (MERIVA® or placebo). The duration of the supplementation is 6 months. The total sample size at baseline is 100 subjects aged 60+ years with Metabolic Syndrome, and therefore at risk of cognitive decline but without definite cognitive pathologies.

The primary objective of the study is the evaluation of the effect of nutritional supplementation with MERIVA® on the cognitive performance of subjects with Metabolic Syndrome, and therefore at risk of cognitive decline, with a view to maintaining the homeostatic balance of the function.

The secondary objectives of the study are:

  • Evaluation of the effect of nutritional supplementation with turmeric (MERIVA®) on memory, executive and attention functions, language, neuropsychiatric profile and daily living ability of Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome;
  • Evaluation of the effect of nutritional supplementation with turmeric (MERIVA®) on the body composition of Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome;
  • Evaluation of the effect of nutritional supplementation with turmeric (MERIVA®) on the arterial properties of Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome;
  • Evaluation of the effect of nutritional supplementation with turmeric (MERIVA®) on glucose metabolism and on the lipid and immune structure of Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome;
  • Evaluation of the influence of gender / gender on the response to nutritional supplementation with turmeric (MERIVA®) in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome;
  • Confirmation of the safety profile of nutritional supplementation with turmeric (MERIVA®) in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female subjects.
  • Subjects aged ≥ 60 years.
  • Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome diagnosed according to standard criteria:
  • Presence of abdominal obesity (waist circumference> 94 cm for males and> 80 cm for females).

In addition, at least two of the following alterations:

  • Fasting blood glucose ≥ 100 mg / dl.
  • Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg / dl.
  • HDL cholesterol <40 mg / dl for males, <50 mg / dl for females.
  • Arterial hypertension (≥ 135/85 mmHg).
  • Subjects who understand the nature of the study and provide their informed consent to participate.
  • Subjects willing and able to participate in the visits and in the procedures foreseen by the study protocol.

Exclusion criteria

  • Subjects with dementia with MMSE <24 test and on therapy with cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine*.
  • Subjects with serious concomitant internal medical conditions or with neurological pathologies capable of causing cognitive dysfunction.
  • Subjects with hepato-biliary disorders, including bile duct obstruction, cholangitis, gallstones.
  • Subjects addicted to alcohol or drugs, or treated with psychotropic drugs at the time of enrollment.
  • Subjects with known or suspected allergy or hypersensitivity to turmeric or other components of the experimental / placebo product.
  • Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and in experimental therapy with Alzheimer's disease drugs.
  • Subjects who are participating or have participated in other clinical studies within 30 days before enrollment.
  • Subjects unable to sign the Informed Consent to Participation.
  • In case of conversion to dementia the Subjects will be kept in the study, will be subjected to the most appropriate therapies provided for the dementia pathology but will not enter the subsequent statistical evaluations.

Treatment and study plan

MERIVA® Tablets

Dietary Supplement

The treatment corresponds to 1 g / day of experimental product (corresponding to about 200 mg of curcuminoids).

Placebo tablets

Other

The composition of placebo includes the same components of the treatment tablets, except for the active substance.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Percentage of subjects showing an improvement in performance in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test in comparison to baseline, defined as an increase of more than 2 points in the test. A difference between the group treated with MERIVA® versus placebo of at least 20% in the proportion of subjects with clinical improvement as defined above is considered clinically relevant. The differences between genders are considered.

  2. Change from Baseline of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Percentage of subjects showing an improvement in performance in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test in comparison to baseline, defined as an increase of more than 2 points in the test. A difference between the group treated with MERIVA® versus placebo of at least 20% in the proportion of subjects with clinical improvement as defined above is considered clinically relevant. The differences between genders are considered.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline of Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding memory tests (Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test - RAVLT). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  2. Change from Baseline of Trail Making Test (TMT) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding executive functions and attention (Trail Making Test - TMT). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  3. Change from Baseline of Multiple Features Target Cancellation (MFTC) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding executive functions and attention (Multiple Features Target Cancellation - MFTC). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  4. Change from Baseline of Phonological and Semantic Verbal Fluidity (FVS) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding language (Phonological and Semantic Verbal Fluidity - FVS). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  5. Change from Baseline of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding a neuropsychiatric scale (Geriatric Depression Scale - GDS). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  6. Change from Baseline of Neuro-Psychiatric Inventory (NPI) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding a neuropsychiatric scale (Neuro-Psychiatric Inventory - NPI). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  7. Change from Baseline of Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding the ability to live everyday (Basic Activities of Daily Living - BADL). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  8. Change from Baseline of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Test

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding the ability to live everyday (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living - IADL). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  9. Change from Baseline of Stroop Test - Short Version

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the neuropsychological measurement performed regarding executive functions and attention (Stroop test short version). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  10. Change from Baseline of Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) Assessment

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of body composition by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  11. Change from Baseline of Metabolism Parameters measured in Blood

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of metabolism changes (blood panel including: total cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoproteins, High-Density Lipoproteins, insulin, triglycerides, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes, hepatic transaminases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, total proteins). In particular, any differences in terms of fasting blood glucose reduction and Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) Index between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  12. Change from Baseline of Lipid and Immune Profile measured in Blood

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the lipid and immune profile of subjects treated with MERIVA® versus placebo. In particular, an omic-type approach will reveal alterations in lipid and energy metabolism, including lipoproteins, low molecular weight metabolites and individual lipid molecules, together with their degree of (poly) (non) saturation (blood panel including: leptin, adiponectin, Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor, proinflammatory mediators such as Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6, prostaglandins and reactive species of oxygen / nitrogen, inflammasome).

    The differences between genders are considered.

  13. Change from Baseline of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and p66Shc Gene Expression measured in Blood

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the lipid and immune profile of subjects treated with MERIVA® versus placebo. In particular, a sample of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) will be separated for the measurement of the expression, by means of real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), of the neurotrophin Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and of the p66Shc gene, which are involved in the response to lifestyle changes, including diets and exercise.

    The differences between genders are considered.

  14. Rate and Characterization of Adverse Events occurred to Subjects

    Time frame: Pre-Screening (T-1) / Baseline (T0) / After 3 months of treatment (T3) / After 6 months of treatment (T6) / After 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation of the number, rate and characteristics of the adverse events occurring to subjects treated with MERIVA® versus placebo.

    The differences between genders are considered.

Other outcomes

  1. Intestinal Microbiotic Profile Assessment in Stool Sample

    Time frame: Change from Baseline (T0) to 6 months of treatment (T6) and 12 months of treatment (T12).

    Evaluation in comparison to baseline of the intestinal microbiotic profile of subjects. Any differences between the groups treated with MERIVA® versus placebo will be recorded.

    The differences between genders are considered.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Indena S.p.A

Industry

Collaborators

  • Istituto Superiore di Sanità
  • Sintesi Research Srl

Registry information

Acronym: EPICURO

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 12, 2021
Registry last updated
Feb 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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