Influence of curcumin on performance and post-exercise recovery

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Sports Science

Background:

• Intense exercise, particularly eccentric contractions, induces muscle damage, oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammation.
• Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) also increase post-exercise, contributing to performance decline.
• Nutritional strategies are explored to mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage and fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on curcumin's role in post-exercise muscle recovery and performance enhancement.
• To explore the potential mechanisms by which curcumin may influence recovery.
• To synthesize findings from diverse exercise modalities and participant populations.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical studies investigating curcumin supplementation for exercise recovery.
• Analysis of studies involving various exercise types (running, cycling, jumping, eccentric training).
• Inclusion of research across different activity levels and age groups, with varied supplementation durations.

Main Results:

• Curcumin interventions showed improvements in perceived pain, reduced muscle damage markers, and attenuated inflammatory responses.
• Enhanced antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress markers were observed in some studies.
• Diminished AGEs and preserved single-leg sprint power were reported, though findings were not always consistent.

Conclusions:

• Curcumin demonstrates potential benefits for muscle recovery due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and AGE-reducing properties.
• Evidence suggests curcumin may help mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage and performance decrements.
• Further research is needed to clarify optimal dosing and confirm consistent efficacy across diverse populations and exercise protocols.