In a new clinical trial, published in Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo, researchers yielded evidence that a water-soluble curcumin ingredient, Curcugen, can attenuate inflammation, oxidation, and soreness brought on by high-intensity exercise.
 
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study, led by Neil Schwarz, PhD, associate professor of Exercise Science at the University of Alabama, randomized 24 participants who refrained from exercise and dietary supplements for two weeks prior to baseline. The participants were placed into groups which took either a single dose of 500 mg Curcugen or the equivalent dose in rice flour prior to an intense exercise protocol of 50 hurdles and 50 drop jumps. Joint range-of-motion (ROM), soreness, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were significantly better in the Curcugen group 72 hours post-exercise, demonstrating benefits to post workout recovery.
 
“Following an exercise bout, acute serial supplementation with Curcugen at 500 mg improved knee range-of-motion and thigh pain tolerance when compared directly with placebo,” Schwarz said. “This is an interesting finding which warrants further investigation into the proper use of Curcugen for recovery after exercise.”
 
“Curcumin is not entirely new to the sports health industry,” Dr. Shavon Jackson-Michel, director of medical and scientific affairs for DolCas, the supplier of Curcugen, said. “Curcumin most commonly appears in capsule and pill formulations. This could be due to its water-insoluble nature. While also applicable to conventional formats, like capsules and pills, Curcugen has been uniquely formulated with a self-dispersing mechanism that allows it to be easily integrated into powdered shakes and other functional applications, even at room temperature – perfect for on-the-go enjoyment.”
 
Curcumin’s Role in Sports Nutrition
 
On the heels of these results, DolCas Biotech discussed the potential role that curcumin could have within the sports nutrition category. The company noted in the announcement that the sports nutrition and supplement space has been gravitating toward heightened clean-label standards set by the population of consumers in this market, with botanicals occupying a space in the clean-label sports nutrition tapestry.
 
“Our raw material contains no non-turmeric or synthetic bio-enhancers, excipients, or binding agents,” Jackson-Michel said. “It also imparts a mild taste that serves to keep high-yield sweeteners at a minimum, with little need for masking agents.”
 
With exercise potentially leading to a free radical/ oxidative stress response that could incite inflammation, researchers believe that nutritional interventions which target antioxidant benefits could attenuate this inflammatory response, possibly improving recovery times post-exercise. Studies have associated this effect through observed reductions in blood serum markers of inflammation with reports of reduced pain sided by a speedy return to physical activity, compared to placebo, DolCas Biotech said.
 
“Given Curcugen’s high performance credentials  and scientific substantiation for its anti-inflammatory benefit in exercise, we are now positioning it to be a major player in the sports health scene,” Jackson-Michel said. “Our pilot study sought the lowest dosing of Curcugen suggested, and succeeded in drawing out significant early evidence that supports its worthiness for both sports formulations and future investigations.” According to its self-affirmed GRAS confirmation, Curcugen is safe in functional foods and beverages at a dose between 210 and 1400 mg/day.