This study is a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial in 64 patients with beta thalassemia major. The objective of the study is to determine the effects of curcumin supplementation on iron overload, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in patients with beta thalassemia major. The inclusion criteria is: age between 18 and 40, consumption of deferoxamine as an iron chelator drug, patients without hepatitis B, C and HIV, Not taking any nutritional supplements from 3 months before the start of the study and the exclusion criteria is: A significant change in dose of deferoxamine therapy during the study and pregnancy.
A general questionnaire and 3-day, 24-hour dietary recalls will be completed for each subject at the beginning of the study. After matching according to sex and age the subjects will be randomly assigned to intervention and placebo group. Fasting blood sample ( 5 cc) will be obtained from each patient at the beginning of the study for measuring parameters such as serum iron, hemoglobin, ferritin, hepcidin, Non-transferrin-bound Iron, malondialdehyde, serum total antioxidant capacity,catalase, glucose and insulin. Then Patients in intervention group will take 2 curcumin capsules per day (each containing 500 mg curcuminoids) for 12 weeks and patients in placebo group will take 2 placebo capsules daily for 12 weeks. Patients and researchers will keep blind during the study. At the end of the study food intake will be evaluated again and blood sampling will be obtained again for measuring biochemical parameters