Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (1,2). Ageing is one of its main risk factors (1,2). A recent mouse study found that curcumin supplementation improved cardiovascular signs associated with ageing (1).
Turmeric is commonly used in Indian cooking and traditional Ayurvedic medicine (3). The source describes it as safe for human use as a spice, with antioxidant effects (1,3). Oxidative processes are considered major contributors to ageing. This study examined turmeric’s antioxidant effects on ageing in mice and their relationship to the cardiovascular system (1).
The study included young mice (4–6 months), compared with a 25-year-old human, and older mice (26–28 months), compared with a 75-year-old human (1).
The mice were divided into four groups: young controls (n=5), young curcumin-treated mice (n=7), older controls (n=10), and older curcumin-treated mice (n=10).
The curcumin groups received daily dietary curcumin at a dose described as equivalent to 14–19 grams for a 60-kg human; controls received the same diet without curcumin. The study lasted 4 weeks (1).
At baseline, as expected, the older mice showed more cardiovascular signs of ageing. Arterial stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, was higher in older mice (448 ±15 versus 349 ±15 cm/s). After 4 weeks, older mice receiving dietary curcumin showed results similar to young mice (386 ±15 cm/s; p<0.05), suggesting improved arterial elasticity, an important factor in cardiovascular health (1).
Another sign of ageing is endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium lines the inside of blood vessels and arteries. When it does not function properly, arteries do not dilate normally, potentially causing high blood pressure (1). After 4 weeks of curcumin-supplemented diet, endothelial function in older mice returned to levels found in young mice: endothelium-dependent acetylcholine-induced arterial dilation was 92 ±2%, p<0.05.
The young curcumin-supplemented mice showed no changes between baseline and week 4, suggesting that curcumin affected only older mice, apparently by reducing oxidative processes (1).
In conclusion, curcumin supplementation appeared to improve important age-related cardiovascular signs in mice, including arterial stiffness and endothelial function. The source describes this as the first study showing that curcumin supplementation could reduce or improve age-related arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction (1), suggesting a possible approach to reducing cardiovascular risk (1).
Further research is needed to establish whether these findings also apply to humans.
REFERENCES:
1. Fleenor B, et al. Curcumin ameliorates arterial dysfunction and oxidative stress with aging. 2013 Experimental Gerontology 48: 269-276.
2. Roger, V.L., et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics 2012 update: a report from the American Heart Association. 2012 Circulation 125, e2–e220.
3. Miriyala, S., et al. Cardioprotective effects of curcumin. 2007 Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 595, 359–377