Effect of Curcumin Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Muscle Damage, and Muscle Soreness

Abstract

Curcumin has been shown to reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of curcumin supplementation on OS, inflammation, muscle damage, and muscle soreness. Nineteen males participated in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effects of curcumin supplementation (1.5 g/day) compared to a placebo (PLA) following a muscle-damaging protocol (MDP) on OS, inflammation, muscle damage, and soreness. Participants were randomized to two groups, curcumin or placebo group. The MDP was performed before and after supplementation (28 days). Blood was sampled pre- and postexercise and 60 min, 24 h, and 48 h postexercise and analyzed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and creatine kinase (CK). In addition, a visual analog scale (VAS) was used on each blood sample to measure perceived muscle soreness. After supplementation, curcumin significantly blunted CK levels (199.62 U/L) compared to the placebo (287.03 U/L), overall (p < 0.0001). In addition, curcumin resulted in decreased muscle soreness, overall (VAS scale 2.88), when compared to the placebo (VAS scale 3.36) (p = 0.0120). There were no differences found in TAC, TNF-α, or MDA. Curcumin may reduce muscle damage and perceived muscle soreness without negatively impacting a natural inflammatory response following exercise. Future research should investigate chronic curcumin supplementation and its mechanistic effects on muscle recovery from exercise.

KEYWORDS:

• antioxidants
• eccentric exercise
• inflammation
• recovery

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mississippi State University for their support and all participants who volunteered to help with the completion of this project.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

This research was funded by NOW Foods (Bloomingdale, IL, USA), which supplied the supplement as well as funding required for blood analysis. The funding source did not contribute directly in terms of study design, collection or analysis of data, writing the manuscript, or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

About the authors

Steven A. Basham, MS received a master’s degree in exercise physiology at Mississippi State University, where he worked as a graduate teaching assistant and taught courses in exercise physiology. During his graduate studies, he conducted nutritional and antioxidant supplementation research focusing on optimizing health, exercise performance, and recovery in tactical occupations and recreational athletes. His research focus remains on improving health, and enhancing recovery after training.

Hunter S. Waldman, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Alabama. His research interests include dietary and training interventions to enhance performance and health in high-stress occupations.

Ben M. Krings, PhD, CSCS is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He received his PhD at Mississippi State University in exercise physiology. Currently, his research areas include the effects of macronutrients on sport performance.

John Lamberth, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Mississippi State University, where he also serves as a graduate coordinator.

JohnEric W. Smith, PhD received his BS, MS and PhD in Exercise Science from Auburn University. He spent 9 years as a researcher in the sports nutrition industry prior to taking an academic teaching and research position at Mississippi State University. He also serves as the Director of the Joseph A. Chromiak Laboratories of Applied Physiology focusing research on human performance.

Matthew J. McAllister, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Sport Sciences division at Texas State University. He currently serves as the Director of the Metabolic and Applied Physiology Laboratory. His research is focused on dietary and exercise interventions in relation to markers of health and performance.