When it comes to sports nutrition products, the most common ones are sports drinks and nutrition bars. These products can be classified into two categories based on their mechanisms of action: those that have stimulant effects, such as taurine and caffeine, which stimulate the body and suppress fatigue to enhance athletic performance, and those that provide nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, to replenish the body's energy stores and alleviate fatigue during exercise.
Overall, these products are all centered around improving athletic performance. However, exercise involves the coordination of various bodily functions, including brain function (reaction time and agility), cardiovascular function (respiratory system, lung health, cardiac endurance, and cardiovascular health), muscular tissue (explosive power and endurance), bone and joint health (flexibility), and even gastrointestinal health. Any problems with these functions can greatly impact athletic performance.
Currently, sports nutrition has expanded from being exclusively for professional athletes to the general population. However, for most people, sedentary work habits and busy work schedules have already caused a decline in their body's athletic abilities. Even a little bit of exercise or increased intensity can cause problems such as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, joint pain, and muscle soreness, leading to an inability to continue exercising. This is also a major reason why many people often fail to adhere to and complete their exercise plans. In reality, professional athletes and sports enthusiasts also experience these problems, but they persevere.
Curcumin and Respiratory Health
Exercise increases the body's demand for oxygen, leading to an increase in respiratory intensity and speed, resulting in increased demands on the respiratory system. This is why improving cardiovascular function is emphasized for those starting exercise and fitness programs. However, the lungs are delicate organs with poor pressure tolerance, making them vulnerable to oxidative stress and inflammation, among other respiratory health issues. Curcumin has attracted the attention of researchers due to its potent antioxidant capacity. In a 2014 article titled "Research Progress of Curcumin in Respiratory System Diseases" published in the International Respiration Journal, Pang Qi and others summarized the respiratory health benefits of curcumin, including A. Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation and transformation of fibroblasts and reduce the degree of pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the imbalance of oxidation-antioxidation. B. Curcumin can increase the content of superoxide dismutase and catalase to inhibit the carcinogenic effects of benzo[a]pyrene in mice. It can also inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and induce apoptosis of lung cancer cells. C. Curcumin can alleviate oxidative stress and inhibit respiratory tract inflammation by inhibiting NO levels, exerting an anti-asthmatic effect. D. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin can reduce pancreatic protease and smoke-induced lung emphysema and respiratory tract inflammation. In summary, respiratory health problems caused by oxidative stress are receiving increasing attention from health professionals. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been confirmed by multiple clinical studies, and its application in respiratory health is worthy of further research.
Curcumin and the Cardiovascular System
The heart and cardiovascular system are essential for maintaining the energy and nutrient supply necessary for exercise. Good cardiovascular function is required for optimal athletic performance. Curcumin can help support healthy cardiovascular function by improving endothelial function and balancing blood pressure.
A study conducted by Texas Christian University and Massey University in New Zealand recruited 59 healthy volunteers with an average age of 21. They were randomly divided into three groups: one group received a placebo, and the other two groups received supplements containing 50mg and 200mg of curcumin per day, respectively. The researchers used the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) test to evaluate the effects of curcumin on endothelial tissue. FMD is a precise test for evaluating endothelial function and can be used as an indicator of cardiovascular disease. An increase of 1% in FMD indicates a 9% to 17% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers found that the FMD index of the 200mg group increased by 2.8%. This suggests that a daily supplement of 200mg of curcumin is sufficient to improve endothelial function in healthy young adults, and consequently improve vascular function, including balancing blood vessel contraction and relaxation after stimulation.
Curcumin with Bones and Muscles
Muscles and bones are the foundation of physical strength during exercise. The stronger the bones and muscles, the more powerful the feeling of strength. However, many sports involve intense movements and collisions, inevitably leading to muscle and bone damage, such as in football, basketball, and rugby. According to a recent study published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 50 male rugby players (suffering from bone and muscle pain due to intense collisions and grappling) were randomly assigned to receive either curcumin supplement (2g twice daily, using phospholipid-curcumin provided by Indena) or standard care for 5-10 days. The evaluation showed that the curcumin supplement group had higher treatment compliance (96% vs 60%) and tolerability (96% vs 56%), and only one person in the supplement group reported minor side effects, while four people in the control group reported side effects such as stomach pain. This suggests that even short-term use of curcumin supplements can improve physical function and alleviate discomfort. India's other study conducted in 2017 linked curcumin with maintaining bone density. In this six-month study, researchers found that daily use of 1g Meriva (Indena's proprietary curcumin) supplements resulted in a 7.1% and 4.8% increase in bone density in the pinky finger and upper jaw, respectively, while no such changes were observed in the control group.
Curcumin and Joint
When discussing bone health, joint health is closely related. Joint health issues such as joint pain and inflammation can affect the willingness and flexibility to exercise.
Curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects are also beneficial for joint health. In a two-month study, 45 rheumatoid arthritis patients were recruited to study the effects of curcumin. Volunteers were divided into three groups, receiving 500 mg of highly bioavailable curcumin, 50 mg of diclofenac and curcumin, or only diclofenac. The study found that all volunteers experienced significant relief from rheumatic symptoms. The first group had a 44.5% improvement in symptoms, the second group had a 44.4% improvement, and the third group had a 42.1% improvement.
In 2016, Curcumin was used in a six-week randomized trial to test the effect of curcumin on reducing the systemic oxidative load in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers recruited 40 patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis and administered curcumin capsules (three doses of 1500mg/day) or placebo. The results showed improvement in the osteoarthritis index, as well as stiffness, pain, and activity of the joints. This was related to the significant reduction in oxidative stress and malondialdehyde concentration and the increase in serum levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase by curcumin.
Also in the same year, a study by the University of Western Ontario and McMaster University in Canada confirmed the health effects of curcumin on knee osteoarthritis.
Curcumin and post-exercise recovery effects
In all studies on the relationship between curcumin and exercise, the most researched aspect is curcumin's post-exercise recovery effects, specifically in relieving muscle damage such as pain and inflammation.
In 2016, researchers at the University of North Texas reported on a study that investigated the effects of curcumin on exercise recovery. In this study, volunteers received 400 mg of Longvida curcumin daily after leg press training. The results showed that compared to the control group, the experimental group had improved muscle fatigue markers such as creatine kinase (CK) and inflammatory cytokines, with the increase in the CK and TNF-α rates reduced by 48% and 25%, respectively.
In March 2015, Indena presented a study on its Meriva brand of curcumin at the Football Medicine Strategies - Player Care Conference in London. This study confirmed that this type of curcumin may help reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness caused by eccentric muscle activity. Conducted independently by researchers from Sterling and Malta universities, the study examined the effects of low-dose curcumin supplementation on cytokine and inflammation marker responses, as well as the effects of a subsequent two-hour endurance cycling exercise Additionally, as football is one of the most popular sports in Europe, several football teams have added Meriva to their athletes' diets. According to team doctors, curcumin supplementation plays an important role in helping athletes maintain their peak physical and mental condition.
In 2014, researchers in Spain's Barcelona Olympic Training Center conducted a downhill walking study using Indena's Meriva phospholipid curcumin to test the effects of curcumin on delayed-onset muscle soreness. Delayed-onset muscle soreness is typically characterized by muscle discomfort and stiffness after unconventional or intense exercise, with the most intense pain occurring 24-72 hours after exercise. The results showed that Meriva phospholipid curcumin can reduce muscle soreness caused by oxidative stress and inflammation associated with continuous exercise.
Currently, among the various health benefits related to exercise, consumers have a good understanding of joint health and support for pain and inflammation. In the US market, curcumin ranks third among the top 10 best-selling joint health ingredients in natural channels and specialty food channels. In the top 10 best-selling health ingredients in diversified channels, curcumin ranks sixth. In terms of pain and inflammation support, curcumin ranks first in both natural channels and specialty food channels.
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