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reference
Bai KY, Liu GH, Fan CH, et al. 12 weeks of curcumin supplementation may relieve post-exercise muscle fatigue in adolescent athletes.Front nut. 2022;9:1078108.
Study objective
To determine whether daily curcumin supplementation reduces postexercise fatigue in adolescent athletes
Key to take away
Turmeric supplementation may impact post-exercise muscle fatigue in adolescent athletes.
design
Non-randomized, non-blinded, prospective cohort study
Participant
28 participants (21 men and 7 women; mean age 17 ± 1 year) completed the study.
Inclusion criteria:Middle and high school athletes who have practiced tennis, soccer, or wrestling for at least 20 hours per week in the past year.
Exclusion criteria:Regular supplement use, reported allergy to curcumin, preference against taking curcumin supplements, and inability to exercise 20 hours per week during the study period.
Of the original 60 participants evaluated for the study, 49 participants were included in the study and 21 were lost to follow-up (ten did not participate in the second survey; 11 were nonadherent to curcumin supplementation).
intervention
Participants in the active group received 1.5 g of Jiang Huang powder containing 1,200 mg of curcumin, 190 mg of starch, and 10 mg of sodium carboxymethylcellulose daily for 12 weeks. Each participant could join or leave the intervention group. The control group did not use a placebo.
Evaluated study parameters
Researchers measured muscle fatigue and soreness using a visual analogue scale from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no fatigue or pain and 10 indicating maximum fatigue or pain.
Researchers measured serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and creatine kinase (CK), as well as urine levels of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) at baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation.
They also used multidimensional fitness assessments, including grip and back strength, balance through foot balance with eyes closed, flexibility through seated trunk flexion and extension, muscular endurance through sit-ups, strength through vertical jump, and agility through reaction time and side steps.
Primary outcome
Muscle fatigue and muscle soreness in young athletes after 12 weeks of daily curcumin supplementation. Secondary outcomes included blood markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Key findings
The mean muscle fatigue score decreased from 6 ± 1 to 4 ± 2 (P=0.005). The mean muscle soreness score decreased from 7 ± 2 to 4 ± 2 (P=0.005).
The mean urinary 8-OHdG value decreased from 4.79 to 3.86 ng/mg creatinine (P<0.036). Changes in CK, MDA, and TNF-α results did not reach significance.
transparency
The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Grants Study financially supported the study and the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Implications and limitations for practice
This study by Bai KY, Liu GH, Fan CH et al. has some significant limitations. The control group was not administered a placebo and therefore the active group was not blinded to the intake of the studied material, which may have contributed to performance bias. Additionally, the reviewers were not blinded, which may have contributed to detection bias.
Another limitation of general extrapolation from this study is that participants were not randomized. Each participant chose to receive (or not receive) the study materials, representing selection bias. This study required many participants to follow up, and the small sample size reduces the ability to detect effects, particularly in subgroup analyzes such as male vs. female.
Biochemical analysis was weak for inflammatory markers. The researchers did not measure several key inflammatory markers. They also did not record or control food intake. Training was logged, but no standardized protocol was provided. In fact, investigators recruited three different sports: wrestling, tennis and soccer.
The researchers did not measure several key inflammatory markers.
While the study states the results in terms of “curcumin” in the title and text, turmeric may be a more appropriate term than the isolated active ingredient curcumin. Based on the typical curcumin content of turmeric, the stated 1,200 mg of turmeric daily corresponds to approximately 35 to 60 mg of curcumin daily.1The study authors did not respond to correspondence at the time of submitting this review.
Aside from these limitations, this study is unique in the choice of demographic characteristics and duration of turmeric supplementation. Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and oxidative stress were primary outcome measures in previous clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses using turmeric or curcumin products.2-7 However, many of these studies are of very short duration or were conducted outside of training. Nobody judges young people.
Due to the design limitations of the study, serious implications for practice are difficult. Integrative medicine doctors often recognize curcumin (curcuminoids) and turmeric as useful anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress interventions. Therefore, it can already be included in recommendations for excessive physical exertion and occasional joint and muscle pain. This study adds to the body of evidence that turmeric supplementation reduces 8-OHdG, a commercially available test for assessing oxidative stress. Unfortunately, due to the open question of exactly how much curcumin was contained in the alleged turmeric powder, we cannot provide even a preliminary comment on the role of turmeric or curcumin for youth athletes based on this study.
Common dosages of turmeric supplements range from 300 to 1,500 mg per day, with the total amount of curcuminoids ranging from 30 mg to 1,350 mg. In addition, different delivery systems that influence absorption also contribute to the product variety on the market.
Given the widespread use and strong safety profile of these supplements, the most prudent measure when considering this intervention for post-exercise muscle fatigue in adolescent athletes may be to follow the supplement manufacturers' label recommendations.
Your Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
The author is employed by a manufacturer and distributor of nutritional supplements, including turmeric supplements (Gaia Herbs).