In recent years, epidemiological studies have suggested that metabolic disorders are nutritionally dependent. A healthy diet that is rich in polyphenols may be beneficial in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and, in particular, atherosclerosis. Curcumin is a polyphenol found in turmeric and has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, and antidiabetic properties, among others. This review summarizes the influence of supplementation with curcumin on metabolic parameters in selected metabolic disorders.

Curcumin is one of the most frequently researched herbal substances; however, it has been reported to have a poor bioavailability and fast metabolism, which has led to doubts about its effectiveness. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and has demonstrated favorable health effects. Nevertheless, well-reported in vivo pharmacological activities of curcumin are limited by its poor solubility, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic profile. The bidirectional interactions between curcumin and gut microbiota play key roles in understanding the ambiguity between the bioavailability and biological activity of curcumin, including its wider health impact.

Introduction: Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. Pathological accumulation of body fat can cause many health problems: insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus type 2. It may also increase morbidity and mortality. Adipose tissue plays an important role in body homeostasis by producing and secreting several bioactive proteins known as adipokines: adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin, and apelin, which are involved in the regulation of food intake, glucose and lipid metabolism, and insulin action. There can be observed nutritional deficiencies, despite increased food intake, in morbidly obese people. Data concerning concentrations of serum 25(OH)D3 presented an inverse correlation with obesity parameters like: BMI (body mass index), waist circumference, fat mass or percentage of body fat. Also, higher insulin sensitivity was associated with higher concentrations of vitamin D. Conclusions: Studies published up to now suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in adipose tissue function and could be involved in the synthesis and modulation of adipokine production. This article is a review of the literature on fatty tissue function and the role of vitamin D in obesity.

Visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a new anthropometric indicator that makes it possible to define the risk of obesity-related cardiometabolic complications even before the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Evaluating the usefulness of VAI in order to differentiate metabolically unhealthy women (MU-PCOS) and defining the usefulness of this index in everyday practice. A prospective study was conducted among 43 women who met the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing polycystic ovarian syndrome. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA v. 10 and relevant statistical tests. The adopted significance level was p = 0.05. Based on the study results, a significant positive correlation was found between the value of VAI and the concentration of insulin (r = 0.33; p < 0.01), HOMA index (r = 0.46; p < 0.01) and FAI (r = 0.54; p < 0.01). It was also shown that there is a significant negative correlation between VAI and the concentration of SHBG (r = -0.53; p < 0.01) and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.88; p < 0.01). In the group of metabolically unhealthy women, the research showed a significantly higher value of free testosterone, SHGB, DHEAS and FAI (p < 0.05). Visceral adiposity index makes it possible to introduce early prevention of metabolic disorders (including cardiometabolic disorders), as well as to evaluate the increase of hyperandrogenemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The use of the cut-off point of VAI = 1.675 is a simple way to evaluate women with MU-PCOS.