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

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,50 mg (50 mg),or 200 mg (200 mg) curcumin,for 8 weeks. the higher curcumin (200 mg) 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%,p = 0.032; benefit: harm odds ratio 546: 1) with the 200 mg dose,relative to placebo. the 50 mg dose also increased fmd relative to placebo by 1.7% (-0.6 to 4.0%,p = 0.23; 25: 1),but the outcome was not clinically decisive. in apparently healthy adults,8 weeks of 200 mg 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). � 2016 jonathan m. oliver et al.