Curcumin and Pomegranate Combination May Help Reduce Inflammation in Runners

Running involves eccentric muscle contractions which trigger a heightened inflammatory response. Training for a half-marathon can put the body under a lot of stress and increase the risk of systemic inflammation. A recent study has found that supplementation with curcumin and pomegranate may help reduce systemic inflammation in people who participate in endurance running.

Participants in the study included 18 people with an average age of 38 who were training for a half marathon. They were given 1000 mg of a supplement containing curcumin and pomegranate or a placebo daily for 31 days. Participants in the supplement group took an additional 1000 mg on days 27 through 31.

The participants ran a half-marathon on day 30. Blood samples were taken on days 29, 30, and 31. They were used to measure levels of blood inflammatory proteins and inflammation-related RNA.

The researchers found that participants in the supplement group saw significant decreases in blood inflammatory proteins and inflammation-related RNA compared to those in the placebo group.   

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of North Texas. It was published online ahead of print on July 13, 2020 in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.