The Effects of Oral Curcumin and Bioperine Supplementation on C - reactive protein In CrossFit Athletes
Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: PURPOSE. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase inflammatory marker which circulates in blood plasma and rises in the presence of systemic inflammation. Strenuous exercise, such as that performed by CrossFit athletes, has been found to acutely raise CRP levels. Curcumin has demonstrated the ability to reduce CRP levels by blunting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines secondary to the suppression of the NF- κB pathway. Concomitant graduate research administration of bioperine with curcumin improves bioavailability by 2,000%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral curcumin and bioperine supplementation on CRP levels in CrossFit athletes. METHODS. Sixteen CrossFit athletes (Male 56.3%, Female 43.8%) provided pre-intervention CRP samples through a finger stick blood draw. Participants were given a combined curcumin (2g) and bioperine (20μg) supplement to be administered with their first meal of the day following 28 days after initial CRP testing. Participants were instructed to continue their usual exercise, dietary, and lifestyle practices over the duration of the study. On the 28th day of supplementation, participants provided a final CRP blood sample. Pre- and post-intervention CRP samples were evaluated using a paired t-test. RESULTS. Curcumin and bioperine supplementation resulted in a mean decrease in CRP levels of 0.26 ± 2.27 mg/L; however, this reduction failed to reach statistical significance (p = .65). Overall, five participants (31.3%) showed an increase in CRP at follow-up, five participants (31.3%) showed a decrease in CRP, and six participants (37.5%) showed no observable changes in CRP at follow-up, likely due to CRP levels below the testing sensitivity threshold. CONCLUSION. The majority of CrossFit athletes evaluated in this study had clinically low or below sensitivity threshold levels of CRP. A lack of measurable data from six participants with CRP levels below testing sensitivity threshold reduced the statistical power of our study. CRP levels in CrossFit athletes should be studied further using larger sample sizes and more sensitive testing devices given the apparent low CRP levels in this population.
Authors: B. Franzen, Cassandra Greenawalt, Sloan Vlahos
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Loma Linda University
OpenAlex ID: W2911989332