Sepide Amini - Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Amirhossein Sahebkar - Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Alireza Dehghani - Ophthalmology Ward, Feiz Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Bijan Iraj - Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abdolreza Rezaeian-Ramsheh - Ophthalmology Ward, Feiz Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Gholamreza Askari - Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Muhammed Majeed - Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ, United States
Mohammad Bagherniya - Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Objective: Curcumin is a safe phytochemical with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering effects. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of curcumin-piperine in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomized trial, ۶۰ diabetic retinopathy patients after meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to two groups of curcumin-piperine supplementation (۱۰۰۰ mg per day for ۱۲ weeks) or receiving placebo. The density of small blood vessels in the retina by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, renal indices (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, body mass index, waist circumference, and weight will be measured.Conclusion: If the beneficial effects of curcumin on diabetic retinopathy are observed, this safe, this natural and inexpensive herbal supplement can be considered a therapeutic solution in these patients.

Diabetes Mellitus, Curcumin, Piperine, Diabetic retinopathy, OCTA