Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?

Curcumin is known for its potential health benefits; however, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding its necessity as a supplement for athletes during the preparatory phase of training. This study aimed to assess the effect of 6-week curcumin supplementation at a dose of 2g/day on selected infl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sebastian Bańkowski, Ziemowit Bronisław Wójcik, Małgorzata Grabara, Dariusz Ozner, Tomasz Pałka, Agata Stanek, Ewa Sadowska-Krępa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317446
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849473517248053248
author Sebastian Bańkowski
Ziemowit Bronisław Wójcik
Małgorzata Grabara
Dariusz Ozner
Tomasz Pałka
Agata Stanek
Ewa Sadowska-Krępa
author_facet Sebastian Bańkowski
Ziemowit Bronisław Wójcik
Małgorzata Grabara
Dariusz Ozner
Tomasz Pałka
Agata Stanek
Ewa Sadowska-Krępa
author_sort Sebastian Bańkowski
collection DOAJ
description Curcumin is known for its potential health benefits; however, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding its necessity as a supplement for athletes during the preparatory phase of training. This study aimed to assess the effect of 6-week curcumin supplementation at a dose of 2g/day on selected inflammatory markers, blood count, and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels in middle-aged amateur long-distance runners during the preparatory period of a macrocycle. Thirty runners were randomly assigned to either a curcumin-supplemented group (CUR, n = 15) or a placebo group (PLA, n = 15). Venous blood samples were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise, and 1h post-exercise. The participants underwent a graded exercise stress test, with an increasing inclination angle after reaching a speed of 14 km/h, both before and after the 6-week supplementation period. Blood samples were collected at rest, 3 minutes post-stress test, and after 1 hour of recovery. The results showed no significant changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), or blood morphology due to curcumin supplementation. However, BDNF levels increased by 21% in the CUR group post-supplementation, while a 5% decrease was observed in the PLA group. These findings do not support a significant effect of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory markers, blood count, or BDNF concentration. Further research is warranted to determine the potential benefits of curcumin supplementation for endurance athletes during the preparatory period for a training cycle.
format Article
id doaj-art-2bb1ad79959e4253b9f3ec927f2981f5
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-2bb1ad79959e4253b9f3ec927f2981f52025-08-20T03:24:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031744610.1371/journal.pone.0317446Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?Sebastian BańkowskiZiemowit Bronisław WójcikMałgorzata GrabaraDariusz OznerTomasz PałkaAgata StanekEwa Sadowska-KrępaCurcumin is known for its potential health benefits; however, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding its necessity as a supplement for athletes during the preparatory phase of training. This study aimed to assess the effect of 6-week curcumin supplementation at a dose of 2g/day on selected inflammatory markers, blood count, and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels in middle-aged amateur long-distance runners during the preparatory period of a macrocycle. Thirty runners were randomly assigned to either a curcumin-supplemented group (CUR, n = 15) or a placebo group (PLA, n = 15). Venous blood samples were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise, and 1h post-exercise. The participants underwent a graded exercise stress test, with an increasing inclination angle after reaching a speed of 14 km/h, both before and after the 6-week supplementation period. Blood samples were collected at rest, 3 minutes post-stress test, and after 1 hour of recovery. The results showed no significant changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), or blood morphology due to curcumin supplementation. However, BDNF levels increased by 21% in the CUR group post-supplementation, while a 5% decrease was observed in the PLA group. These findings do not support a significant effect of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory markers, blood count, or BDNF concentration. Further research is warranted to determine the potential benefits of curcumin supplementation for endurance athletes during the preparatory period for a training cycle.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317446
spellingShingle Sebastian Bańkowski
Ziemowit Bronisław Wójcik
Małgorzata Grabara
Dariusz Ozner
Tomasz Pałka
Agata Stanek
Ewa Sadowska-Krępa
Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
PLoS ONE
title Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
title_full Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
title_fullStr Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
title_full_unstemmed Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
title_short Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
title_sort does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation blood count and serum brain derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long distance runners
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317446
work_keys_str_mv AT sebastianbankowski doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners
AT ziemowitbronisławwojcik doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners
AT małgorzatagrabara doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners
AT dariuszozner doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners
AT tomaszpałka doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners
AT agatastanek doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners
AT ewasadowskakrepa doescurcuminsupplementationaffectinflammationbloodcountandserumbrainderivedneurotropicfactorconcentrationinamateurlongdistancerunners