Curcumin supplementation accelerates high-altitude acclimatization, prevents polycythemia and modulates gut microbiota in male Han population: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Previous evidence showed that curcumin enhanced the oxygen supply efficiency of hemoglobin and alleviated acute plateau hypoxia injury in animal models. However, its efficacy on human beings is not yet verified. This study aimed to assess the effects of curcumin supplementation on hypoxia injury and gut microbiota in the male Han population. Methods: In this 7-week single-blinded randomized trial, 102 male Han population urgently entered the 3,000 meters altitude from the plain and received 812 mg curcumin or placebo per day for 1 week on the plain and 6 weeks on the plateau. Biochemical parameters were assessed and physical examination was carried out at the baseline (T0), and the end of the 1st (T Results: After a 1-week intervention on the plain, curcumin significantly increased red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), and hemoglobin in treatment group as compared to placebo group ( Conclusion: Curcumin exhibited different regulation of hemoglobin in low- and high-altitude environments. On the plain, curcumin supplementation elevated the RBC and hemoglobin, which is favorable for reducing the incidence of AMS at the early stage of entering the plateau. On the plateau, curcumin suppressed excessive increase of HCT and hemoglobin by modulating the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria to avoid the occurrence of high-altitude polycythemia. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR220005965.