Curcumin effects on inflammation and performance recovery following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage

Abstract

Downhill running is associated with fiber damage, inflammation, delayed-onset muscle soreness, and various functional deficits. Curcumin, a constituent of the Indian spice turmeric has been investigated for its anti-inflammatory activity and may offset some of the damage and functional deficits associated with downhill running. This study examined the effects of curcumin on inflammation and recovery of running performance following downhill running in mice. Male mice were assigned to downhill placebo (Down-Plac), downhill curcumin (Down-Cur), uphill placebo (Up-Plac), or uphill curcumin (Up-Cur) groups and run on a treadmill at 22 m/min at -14% or +14% grade, for 150 min. At 48 h or 72 h after the up/downhill run, mice (experiment 1) underwent a treadmill performance run to fatigue. Another subset of mice was placed in voluntary activity wheel cages following the up/downhill run (experiment 2) and their voluntary activity (distance, time and peak speed) was recorded. Additional mice (experiment 3) were killed at 24 h and 48 h following the up/downhill run, and the soleus muscle was harvested for analysis of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha), and plasma was collected for creatine kinase analysis. Downhill running decreased both treadmill run time to fatigue (48 h and 72 h) and voluntary activity (24 h) (P < 0.05), and curcumin feedings offset these effects on running performance. Downhill running was also associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines (24 h and 48 h) and creatine kinase (24 h) (P < 0.05) that were blunted by curcumin feedings. These results support the hypothesis that curcumin can reduce inflammation and offset some of the performance deficits associated with eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.

The Effect of Curcumin Supplementation on Selected Markers of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

“…Several studies have confirmed that curcumin blocks the activity of transcription factor NF-kappaB, reduces AP-1 binding to DNA and causes decreased production of COX-2, all of which play a role in inflammation (22,34,35). Curcumin appears to target NF-kappaB as opposed to COX-2, indicating the potential for less serious side effects than NSAIDs (22). This mechanism could also be responsible for reduced inflammatory response to exercise observed in this study.…”

“…Some investigations have evaluated for the effect of curcumin on DOMS (21)(22)(23)(24). However, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has tested administration of 150mg curcumin supplement immediately after intensive eccentric exercise.…”

Effects of allicin supplementation on plasma markers of exercise-induced muscle damage, IL-6 and antioxidant capacity

“…The majority of studies that have been conducted in an attempt to reduce EIMD have focused on taking medicines, using massage, antioxidants supplementation and using other potential agents (Peake et al 2005b;Hilbert et al 2003;Lu et al 2006;Davis et al 2007;Savage and Clarkson 2002). However, the results of these studies varied greatly, and more studies of new treatments for reducing EIMD are needed.…”

Curcumin β-D-Glucuronide Plays an Important Role to Keep High Levels of Free-Form Curcumin in the Blood

“…Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, 1,2) free radical scavenger-mediated antioxidant, 3,4) anticancer, 5,6) anti-allergy, 7,8) anti-arthritis, 9,10) anti-diabetes, 11) hepatoprotective, 12) neuroprotective, 13) antidepressant, 14) and muscle damage protective 15) physiological effects. With regard to chronic inflammation that is particularly associated with lifestyle-related diseases, many recent studies have investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), 16,17) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).…”