Novel Form of Curcumin Improves Endothelial Function in Young, Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study

Abstract

Curcumin, a turmeric extract, may protect against cardiovascular diseases by enhancing endothelial function. In this randomized controlled double-blind parallel prospective study, fifty-nine healthy adults were assigned to placebo, 50mg (50mg), or 200mg (200mg) curcumin, for 8 weeks. The higher curcumin (200mg) supplementation produced a dose-mediated improvement in endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). The outcome was a clinically substantial 3.0% increase (90% CI 0.7 to 5.3%, ; benefit : harm odds ratio 546:1) with the 200mg dose, relative to placebo. The 50mg dose also increased FMD relative to placebo by 1.7% (-0.6 to 4.0%, ; 25:1), but the outcome was not clinically decisive. In apparently healthy adults, 8 weeks of 200mg oral curcumin supplementation resulted in a clinically meaningful improvement in endothelial function as measured by FMD. Oral curcumin supplementation may present a simple lifestyle strategy for decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This trial was registered at ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN90184217).