The Best Curcumin Supplement - What Are The Benefits of Taking Curcumin?

The best curcumin supplement, a chemical that naturally occurs in turmeric root, may protect against the cardiovascular effects of aging as much as moderate aerobic exercise, according to a trio of studies conducted by researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan. Turmeric root has been an important component of traditional Asian medicinal systems for hundreds of years. In recent decades, scientific studies have confirmed the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the trio of turmeric chemicals known as "curcuminoids," which give the root its distinctive yellow-orange color. Although only one of these chemicals is properly known as "curcumin," the name refers to all of them collectively.

Now, the results of three clinical trials appear to add improved artery function – a key aspect of vascular health – to the list of potential curcumin benefits. The three new studies all compared the effects of exercise and curcumin on heart health and postmenopausal women over an eight-week period. In all three trials, daily curcumin supplements improved known risk factors for cardiovascular health just as much as moderate aerobic exercise did. All the studies were double-blind and placebo-controlled.

"Regular ingestion of curcumin could be a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women," the authors of the first studies wrote. "Furthermore, our results suggest that curcumin may be a potential alternative ... for patients who are unable to exercise."

What Is Curcumin Used To Treat?

In the first study, researchers assigned 32 women to either take a curcumin supplement, engage in moderate aerobic exercise training, or undergo no intervention at all. The researchers measured participants' vascular endothelial function - the responsiveness of the layer of cells that line the blood vessels, a key indicator of overall cardiovascular health - both at the beginning and end of the study.  While there was no improvement in the control group, endothelial function significantly increases in both the exercise and curcumin groups. Most surprisingly, the improvement in the two experimental groups was identical.

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Effects of Curcumin on Arterial Response

The second study examined curcumin's effects on the responsiveness of arteries to changes in blood pressure ("arterial compliance").  This is another key measure of cardiovascular health.  Thirty-two women were randomly assigned to receive either a curcumin supplement or a placebo pill.  The second group had to undergo an exercise routine plus either a curcumin or placebo pill.  The researchers found no significant improvement in the control group.  There were significant (and equivalent) improvements in both the exercise-only and curcumin-only groups.  The greatest improvement was among participants who exercised and also took the supplements.