[Effects of Curcumin] 3 Effects of Curcumin to Combat Chronic Inflammation

Dec 03, 2023Sunhyo Kim

[Effects of Curcumin] 3 Effects of Curcumin to

Combat Chronic Inflammation

Curcumin

Curcumin, A Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Ingredient

This content is health information about ingredients and not directly related to a specific product.

Effects of Curcumin

1. Anti-inflammatory and prevents chronic disease
2. Antioxidant
3. Improves rheumatoid arthritis

Hello, I am Jinny, a pharmacist.

Do you know what modern medicine points to as the root of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, cancer, etc.? It is ‘chronic inflammation.’ Unlike acute inflammation, which operates in an emergency to protect the human body, chronic inflammation refers to a state in which the inflammatory response continues even in non-emergency situations. Accordingly, attempts to prevent various diseases by effectively controlling chronic inflammation are continuing.

In relation to this, today we will learn about ‘curcumin’, which has recently been attracting attention as a powerful anti-inflammatory material. Curcumin is one of the polyphenols contained in turmeric and is also the pigment that gives curry its yellow color.

Now, let’s take a look at the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin revealed by academics through research.

1. Anti-Inflammatory and Prevents Chronic Disease

Curcumin has actually been used to treat inflammatory diseases for centuries, and over the past 20 years, various studies have clearly demonstrated that it has anti-inflammatory properties by regulating inflammatory factors.

We would like to introduce you to a review paper on curcumin published in 2009 in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, published by Cell Press, a highly authoritative scientific journal publisher.

“Extensive research over the past 20 years has demonstrated that curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties through downregulation of inflammatory transcription factors (NF-ĸB), enzymes (COX-2 and 5-LOX), and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1, and interleukin 6). "We have shown that it mediates inflammatory effects. Since inflammation plays a critical role in most chronic diseases, the potential of curcumin has been investigated in neoplastic, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic diseases."

Reference : Aggarwal BB, Sung B. (2009). Pharmacological basis for the role of curcumin in chronic diseases: an age-old spice with modern targets. Trends Pharmacol Sc, 30(2), 85-94.

2. Antioxidant

The various pharmacological effects of curcumin that academic circles are paying attention to are due to curcumin's very strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Curcumin is known to suppress free radicals, another factor that causes our body to age and become sick, as well as chronic inflammation.

In 2020, a meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the antioxidant capacity of curcumin was published in the journal Antioxidants, and the paper reported the following conclusions:

“In summary, this meta-analysis showed that pure curcumin has antioxidant properties. It has the potential to reduce the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and increase total antioxidant capacity (TAC). "The action of curcumin on oxidative stress markers is related to its properties for the removal of free radicals and nitrogen, chelated metals, and the regulation of numerous enzymes. Curcumin has therefore been proven to be an antioxidant."

Reference : Jakubczyk, K., Drużga, A., Katarzyna, J., & Skonieczna-Żydecka, K. (2020). Antioxidant Potential of Curcumin-A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(11), 1092.

1. Decrease Body Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Increase Muscle Mass Compared to Fat Mass

Curcumin's powerful anti-inflammatory effect also applies to arthritis. It is known to be particularly helpful for rheumatoid arthritis, one of the autoimmune diseases.

In 2012, a human application test conducted on patients with ongoing rheumatoid arthritis was published in Phytotherapy Research. Research results have shown that curcumin can help improve disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis more effectively than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac sodium).

“Interestingly, the curcumin group showed the greatest improvement in overall DAS (Disease Activity Score) and ACR (American College of Rheumatology) scores, which were significantly better than patients in the diclofenac sodium group. And more importantly, curcumin treatment It has been found to be safe and is not associated with any side effects.”

Reference : Chandran B, Goel A. (2012). A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Phytother Res, 26(11), 1719-25.

Today, we learned about curcumin, an anti-inflammatory material. Curcumin is known not only to have a slight anti-inflammatory effect, but also to help prevent various chronic diseases, as mentioned earlier. In addition, it is also being studied in relation to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and depression. Therefore, I think it will be a subject that will attract more and more attention in the future.

I hope you have a healthy day both physically and mentally. This was Jinny.

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