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Curcumin

Curcumin is a bioactive compound found in turmeric, a spice commonly used in Asian cuisine. It has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it popular in traditional medicine and modern health supplements. Curcumin is studied for its potential benefits in managing conditions like arthritis, cancer, and heart disease. However, its poor bioavailability means it is often combined with other substances, like piperine from black pepper, to enhance absorption.

Curcumin

Recent studies highlight the significant benefits and some contradictory results of curcumin supplementation across various health domains:

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties:

      • Curcumin demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6) and improving antioxidant activity (Cytokine. 2023).
      • Curcumin supplementation improved muscle strength and joint flexibility, reducing muscle soreness and inflammatory biomarkers (Phytother Res. 2022).
      • However, another study found that curcumin supplementation did not show statistically significant effects on exercise-induced muscle damage, delayed onset muscle soreness, or inflammation (Nutr Health. 2024).

Glycemic Control:

      • Curcumin combined with piperine supplementation showed numerical reductions in fasting plasma glucose, HOMA-IR, and BMI in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, though the results were not statistically significant (J ASEAN Fed Endocr Soc. 2024).
      • Curcumin significantly improved glycemic control, as evidenced by reductions in fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin levels, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and HOMA-IR (Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2023).

Lipid Profile:

      • Curcumin exhibited positive effects on lipid profiles, significantly improving total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, and HDL-c levels (Complement Ther Med. 2023).

Endothelial Function:

      • Curcumin preparations significantly enhanced endothelial function by improving flow-mediated dilation (FMD), with a greater effect observed in nonsmokers (Complement Med Res. 2020).

Osteoarthritis Relief:

      • Curcumin has been shown to effectively alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms, significantly decreasing pain, improving joint mobility and stiffness, and reducing medication usage in patients (Phytother Res. 2024).

PUBLICATIONS

  1. The efficacy of curcumin in relieving osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis of meta-analyses.
          • Phytother Res. 2024 Jun;38(6):2875-2891.
          • Design: An umbrella meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating curcumin’s effects on knee osteoarthritis outcomes.
          • Summary: Curcumin significantly decreased VAS score, WOMAC-total, WOMAC-Function, WOMAC-Pain, and WOMAC-Stiffness scores, supporting its use in relieving pain, improving joint mobility and stiffness, and reducing medication usage in OA patients.
  2. The effect of curcumin supplementation on functional strength outcomes and markers of exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
          • Nutr Health. 2024 Mar;30(1):77-92.
          • Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining curcumin’s impact on functional strength, exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and inflammation.
          • Summary: Curcumin showed no statistically significant effect on EIMD, DOMS, or inflammation, indicating further research is needed to determine its efficacy.
  3. Effects of Combination of Curcumin and Piperine Supplementation on Glycemic Profile in Patients with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
          • J ASEAN Fed Endocr Soc. 2024;39(1):106-114.
          • Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating the effects of curcumin and piperine on glycemic profile in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
          • Summary: Curcumin and piperine supplementation showed a numerical reduction in FPG, HOMA-IR, and BMI, but results were not statistically significant.
  4. Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on glycemic indices in adults: A grade-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
          • Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2023 Oct;17(10):102855.
          • Design: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs investigating the impact of turmeric/curcumin supplementation on glycemic control.
          • Summary: Curcumin significantly improved fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin levels, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and HOMA-IR, indicating its potential as a complementary method for managing disturbed glycemia.
  5. Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on lipid profile: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
          • Complement Ther Med. 2023 Aug;75:102955.
          • Design: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs exploring the effect of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on lipid profile.
          • Summary: Curcumin significantly improved blood levels of TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c, but did not affect Apo-A or Apo-B levels.
  6. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
          • Cytokine. 2023 Apr;164:156144.
          • Design: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs examining the impact of turmeric/curcumin on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.
          • Summary: Curcumin significantly reduced inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6) and improved antioxidant activity (TAC, MDA, SOD), but had no significant effect on IL-1β.
  7. The effect of curcumin supplementation on delayed-onset muscle soreness, inflammation, muscle strength, and joint flexibility: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
          • Phytother Res. 2022 Jul;36(7):2767-2778.
          • Design: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs assessing curcumin’s effects on exercise-induced muscle damage, muscle soreness, inflammatory biomarkers, muscle strength, and joint flexibility.
          • Summary: Curcumin supplementation significantly reduced serum CK activity, muscle soreness, and TNF-α concentration, and improved MVC and ROM.
  8. Curcumin Preparations Can Improve Flow-Mediated Dilation and Endothelial Function: A Meta-Analysis.
          • Complement Med Res. 2020;27(4):272-281.
          • Design: Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials analyzing the effect of curcumin preparations on endothelial dysfunction.
          • Summary: Curcumin preparations significantly improved FMD, indicating enhanced endothelial function, with a larger effect observed in nonsmokers.
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