Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39808679›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2025

Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?

Sebastian Bańkowski, Ziemowit Bronisław Wójcik, Małgorzata Grabara, Dariusz Ozner, Tomasz Pałka, Agata Stanek, Ewa Sadowska-Krępa

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sebastian BańkowskiInstitute of Sport Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-9682-2575
Ziemowit Bronisław WójcikFaculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Małgorzata GrabaraInstitute of Sport Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.
Dariusz OznerInstitute of Sport Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.ORCID 0009-0004-2052-8109
Tomasz PałkaDepartment of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education in Krakow, Krakow, Poland.
Agata StanekDepartment of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Upper-Silesian Medical Centre of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.
Ewa Sadowska-KrępaInstitute of Sport Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-9374-8071

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Curcumin is known for its potential health benefits; however, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding its necessity as a supplement for athletes during the preparatory phase of training. This study aimed to assess the effect of 6-week curcumin supplementation at a dose of 2g/day on selected inflammatory markers, blood count, and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels in middle-aged amateur long-distance runners during the preparatory period of a macrocycle. Thirty runners were randomly assigned to either a curcumin-supplemented group (CUR, n = 15) or a placebo group (PLA, n = 15). Venous blood samples were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise, and 1h post-exercise. The participants underwent a graded exercise stress test, with an increasing inclination angle after reaching a speed of 14 km/h, both before and after the 6-week supplementation period. Blood samples were collected at rest, 3 minutes post-stress test, and after 1 hour of recovery. The results showed no significant changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), or blood morphology due to curcumin supplementation. However, BDNF levels increased by 21% in the CUR group post-supplementation, while a 5% decrease was observed in the PLA group. These findings do not support a significant effect of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory markers, blood count, or BDNF concentration. Further research is warranted to determine the potential benefits of curcumin supplementation for endurance athletes during the preparatory period for a training cycle.

Indexed as

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorCurcuminDietary SupplementsInflammationRunningAdultAthletesBiomarkersBlood Cell CountC-Reactive ProteinFemaleHumansInterleukin-6MaleMiddle AgedTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaBDNF protein, humanBiomarkersBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorC-Reactive ProteinCurcuminInterleukin-6Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Identifiers

PMID39808679
PMCPMC11731706

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.