Curcumin decreases pain and muscle damage after strenuous exercise

Curcumin decreases pain and muscle damage after strenuous exercise

In this study a well absorbed Curcumin decreased muscle soreness after exercise. Moderately active men were supplemented with a well absorbed curcumin supplement before and after a strenuous race. They were supplemented with 200mg of the well absorbed curcumin twice a day starting two days before and continuing for one day after a strenuous downhill run. The curcumin group developed less post-exercise pain in the back of their thighs. The increase in markers of muscle damage and inflammation detectable in blood were overall, lower in the curcumin group. The effects of exercise leading to muscle pain has a great deal to do with free radical damage (a.k.a. oxidative stress) and inflammation. Curcumin, being a powerful antioxidant if absorbable is a strong antidote to oxidative stress. Curcumin is a well known anti-inflammatory agent. The study is published in the recent edition of the Journal of the International Society of Sports.