Effects of oral curcumin ingested before or after eccentric exercise on markers of muscle damage and inflammation

Abstract

We examined the effect of curcumin (CUR) ingestion before or after exercise on changes in muscle damage and inflammatory responses after exercise. We conducted two parallel experiments with different CUR ingestion timings using a double‐blind crossover. In Exp. 1, ten healthy men ingested 180 mg d−1 of CUR or placebo (PLA) 7 days before exercise. In Exp. 2, ten other healthy men ingested 180 mg d−1 of CUR or PLA 7 days after exercise. They performed 30 maximal isokinetic (120°s−1) eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors using an isokinetic dynamometer, and this was repeated with the other arm ≥4 weeks later. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque of the elbow flexors, elbow joint range of motion (ROM), muscle soreness, and serum creatine kinase (CK) activity were measured before, immediately after, and 1‐7 days after exercise. Plasma interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) was measured before, immediately after, 12 hours after, and 1‐7 days after exercise. The changes were compared over time. In Exp. 1, no significant differences were found between CUR and PLA subjects for each parameter. However, increases in IL‐8 were significantly reduced 12 hours after exercise when CUR was ingested before exercise. In Exp. 2, compared to the PLA subjects, MVC torque and ROM were higher 3‐7 days and 2‐7 days after exercise (P < 0.05), respectively, whereas muscle soreness and CK activity were lower 3‐6 days and 5‐7 days after exercise (P < 0.05), respectively, in CUR subjects. CUR ingestion before exercise could attenuate acute inflammation, and after exercise could attenuate muscle damage and facilitate faster recovery.

Modulation of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage, Inflammation, and Oxidative Markers by Curcumin Supplementation in a Physically Active Population: A Systematic Review

“…Previous research has indicated that curcumin may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects on DOMS [24]. Furthermore, similar effects of curcumin have been described by Tanabe et al [1], who found that ingestion before exercise could attenuate acute inflammation, and after exercise, it could attenuate muscle damage and facilitate faster recovery. Drobnic et al [5] reported a reduction in muscular trauma with a moderate reduction in pain with curcumin supplementation.…”

“…In addition, Delecroix et al [31] chose a combination of curcumin plus piperine in the composition. Regarding the daily dose of curcumin, seven studies used doses ranging from 150 to 1500 mg [1,2,4,5,10,24,25,30,32], and two studies tested higher doses of about 5 g [28] and 6 g [31] daily. In nine of the included studies, supplementation was given before and after exercise [1,2,5,10,25,28,[30][31][32], Sciberras et al [4] used curcumin before exercise, and Nakhostin-Roohi et al [24] supplemented with curcumin after exercise.…”

“…Regarding the daily dose of curcumin, seven studies used doses ranging from 150 to 1500 mg [1,2,4,5,10,24,25,30,32], and two studies tested higher doses of about 5 g [28] and 6 g [31] daily. In nine of the included studies, supplementation was given before and after exercise [1,2,5,10,25,28,[30][31][32], Sciberras et al [4] used curcumin before exercise, and Nakhostin-Roohi et al [24] supplemented with curcumin after exercise. Finally, treatment duration ranged from one to fifty-six days, with three studies of four days [1,5,31], two of six days [28,30], two of seven days [1,25], two of one day [2,24], one of twenty-eight days [10], and one of fifty-six days [32], respectively.…”

“…Physical activity, particularly high-intensity eccentric muscle contractions, induces exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) [1,2]. EIMD leads to the onset of an inflammatory response that is associated with a decrease in the ability to generate muscle strength, decreased range of motion (ROM), localized swelling, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and increased muscle proteins in the blood (creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and myoglobin (Mb)) [3].…”

The “Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology” Journal Club Series: Utility and Advantages of the Eccentric Training through the Isoinertial System

“…Its mechanism of action is supposed to involve membranes crossing and the stabilization of the excitation-contraction coupling in myocytes, preserving the contractile function, especially of Type II fibers, which are the ones maily involved in eccentric contractions. Another study by Tanabe et al [15] supports the use of a nutraceutical compound, curcumin, in order to overcome the possible side effects of high-intensity eccentric exercise and faster recovery in case of muscle damage. Curcumin supplementation, after exercise, was shown to improve muscle strength, range of motion, pain, and serum creatine kinase activity, while curcumin supplementation before exercise attenuated the early inflammatory makers (IL-8).…”