Exploring The Relationship Between Optimized Bioavailable Curcumin And Performance After an Intensified Training Program

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this double blind, randomized, study was to determine the effects of Longvida® Optimized Curcumin on time trial performance time as well as the inflammatory mediator C‐reactive protein (CRP) after 2 weeks of an intensified training program. Methods Healthy men and women (aged 18–40 y) were randomly assigned to placebo (PLA; n=11), Curcumin 1 (LV1; n=12) or Curcumin 2 (LV2; n=11) groups. Participants consumed capsules of rice flour placebo (1000mg/day) or curcumin (1000mg/day; Longvida 1 (LV1) or 1000mg/day Longvida 2 (LV2)) for 14 days, during a 2‐week intensified, cycle training period, which consisted of 3 training sessions per week. Each training session consisted of 6, 90 second stationary cycling sprints at 80–90% heart rate max (HRmax) followed by 180 seconds of low intensity cycling at 50–60% HRmax. Age, body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (BF%; BodPod, Cosmed, USA), and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) were assessed at the pre intervention time point (PRE). Time trial performance (16.1 km; TT) was obtained on a stationary cycle and resting and fasted serum was evaluated for CRP using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay at both PRE and post intervention (POST) time points. Differences among groups were assessed using a one‐way ANOVA, and PRE and POST measurements among groups were assessed using a two‐way mixed model ANOVA. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation with significance set at α=0.05. Results At PRE, there were no significant differences between groups with respect to mean participant characteristics (age: 24.8±4.2 y; BMI: 24.0±3.5; BF%: 20.55±8.90; VO2peak 42.07±8.90 ml/kg/min). TT performance significantly improved an average of 1.41±5.01% (p=0.05) when PRE times were compared to POST. Additionally, although not statistically significant, the average TT time change from PRE to POST was −205.67 sec for PLA, −2.17 sec for LV1, −105.32 sec for LV2. There were no significant group effects or group by time interactions for CRP (PLA: 3.2 ±3.4 mg/L; LV1: 0.7 ±0.9 mg/L; LV2: 1.2±01.3 mg/L). Conclusions The intensified training period elicited a significant improvement in TT performance. When taken daily, the dose of curcumin used in this study did not appear to provide additional performance related benefits. However, when compared to the existing literature, the dose and the timing of curcumin intake as well as the mode of the activity may be related to curcumin‐mediated improvements in performance. Support or Funding Information Verdure Sciences, Noblesville, IN