title: Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress.
abstract: We hypothesized that curcumin would improve resistance and conduit artery endothelial function and large elastic artery stiffness in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Thirty-nine healthy men and postmenopausal women (45-74 yrs) were randomized to 12 weeks of curcumin (2000 mg/day Longvida®; n=20) or placebo (n=19) supplementation. Forearm blood flow response to acetylcholine infusions (FBFACh; resistance artery endothelial function) increased 37% following curcumin supplementation (107±13 vs. 84±11 AUC at baseline, P=0.03), but not placebo (P=0.2). Curcumin treatment augmented the acute reduction in FBFAChinduced by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitorNGmonomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; P=0.03), and reduced the acute increase in FBFAChto the antioxidant vitamin C (P=0.02), whereas placebo had no effect (both P>0.6). Similarly, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (conduit artery endothelial function) increased 36% in the curcumin group (5.7±0.4 vs. 4.4±0.4% at baseline, P=0.001), with no change in placebo (P=0.1). Neither curcumin nor placebo influenced large elastic artery stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity or carotid artery compliance) or circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation (all P>0.1). In healthy middle-aged and older adults, 12 weeks of curcumin supplementation improves resistance artery endothelial function by increasing vascular nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress, while also improving conduit artery endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Santos-Parker
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: Talia R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Strahler
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: Candace J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: Nina Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Bispham
authors.affiliation: Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Michel B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Chonchol
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Seals
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000368:Aged; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003474:Curcumin; D000109:Acetylcholine
keywords: aging; arterial stiffness; curcumin; endothelium-dependent dilation; inflammation; oxidative stress