Two studies have shown some very interesting results.
The first demonstrated that Curcumin + a high calorie/high fat diet leads to much less fat gain than without it. It does this by inhibiting blood vessel formation in fat tissue, which is critical for tissue growth. Not only this, but it also accelerates fat metabolism as even though a high fat diet was consumed, the animals given curcumin had noticeably less cholesterol, free fatty acids and triglycerides in their system then both high fat no curcumin subjects and also control subjects fed a regular diet...
Curcumin also inhibits the production of PPAR-Gamma, the sensor alerting fat cells to the presence of fat. With the sensor not working properly, the cells absorb less fat. It also drastically increases production of the enzyme CPT-1, which attaches carnitine to fatty acids, allowing them to be absorbed by the mitochondria, the energy generators in cells.
This helps activate the signal molecule AMPK, leading to exhausted AMP molecules to be recharged. the cell also uses this enzyme as a measure of the amount of energy. IF AMPK becomes more active, the cells start to work harder to provide more energy. Fat cells discharge their contents in the blood, muscles absorb more glucose, and burn more fatty acids. Figure below shows curcumin's effect in raising AMPK in fatty tissue:
So basically Curcumin burns fat and is anti-catabolic all in one...
A second study shows that Tumeric and by extension Curcumin(the active ingredient in Tumeric), inhibits the conversion of amino acids into glucose
So this study basically shows how Curcumin prevents amino acids from being turned into glucose, which allows them to build more muscle...
