Curcumin and Muscle Regeneration
Curcumin and Muscle Regeneration
Believe it or not, curcumin has something in it that repairs muscle better than anything presently
known. Derived from the spice turmeric, curcumin speeds recovery without injections or side effects.
Although the data is preliminary, it appears that when curcumin is taken orally, it has the ability to
home in on injured muscle. Once there, it changes the biochemistry of baby muscle cells, causing
them to grow faster and clump together quicker to create new tissue. According to the study,
curcumin caused muscle cells to fuse together twice as fast as they ordinarily would.
It's not known exactly how curcumin works. Researchers do know, however, that curcumin
suppresses a factor that influences growth factors. This factor, NF B (nuclear factor kappa B),
plays a prominent role in immunity and cell growth. Immediately after muscle injury, the immune
system dispatches cells to the area. Their job is to destroy old tissue and begin new construction.
NF B is one of the lines of communication immune cells use to get things done. By influencing NF
B, curcumin modulates the repair process.
The regeneration of muscle is a complex phenomenon. Curcumin works in part by changing the
arrival time and status of chemical messengers known as cytokines. Cytokines appear at the scene
early on, and they have a powerful effect on inflammation and cell growth. A cytokine known as IL-6
(interleukin-6), for example, makes muscle cells multiply. Another one called TNF (tumor necrosis
factor) keeps cells from growing up, developing. By suppressing one, and enhancing the other,
curcumin can speed things up.
The authors of the study believe that curcumin works by other mechanisms that probably involve
growth factors, but this has not been proven yet. In other attempts to make muscles regenerate,
researchers have tried injecting synthetic growth factors or transplanting myoblasts–all with limited
success. Curcumin seems to be a much safer, more effective treatment – at least in the early
stages. The effects of curcumin are felt early on–right after injury when the body first sends out the
repair squads.
So if you want to try curcumin for muscle regeneration, make sure you take it as soon as the injury
occurs. The authors of the study predict that curcumin may be useful not only for accidental
injuries or sports, but also to help repair surgical damage.
Thaloor D, et al. 1999. Systemic administration of the NF- B inhibitor curcumin stimulates muscle
regeneration after traumatic injury. Am J Physiol 277(2 pt 1):C320-29.
Accelerated Healing
Wound treatment may be enhanced by curcumin, it turns out. In an experiment using groups of
curcumin-treated and untreated rats and guinea pigs, researchers discovered "faster wound
closure" in the treated animals compared to their untreated counterparts. Subsequent biopsies of
the wounds showed redevelopment of epidermal cells, increased migration of various other cells to
the wound site like myofibroblasts, fibroblasts and macrophages, and extensive re-growth of blood
vessels.
As a follow-up to a study, scientists reached similar results among diabetic rodents who
experienced impaired healing. The researchers found improved blood vessel formation, increased
cell migration to the wound site, and higher levels of collagen, a fibrous protein found in connective
tissue, bone and cartilage.
Sidhu GS et al. Enhancement of wound healing by curcumin in animals. Wound Repair Regen
1998 Mar-Apr;6(2):167-77.
Sidhu GS et al. Curcumin enhances wound healing in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and
genetically diabetic mice. Wound Repair Regen 1999 Sep-Oct;7(5):362-74.
Believe it or not, curcumin has something in it that repairs muscle better than anything presently
known. Derived from the spice turmeric, curcumin speeds recovery without injections or side effects.
Although the data is preliminary, it appears that when curcumin is taken orally, it has the ability to
home in on injured muscle. Once there, it changes the biochemistry of baby muscle cells, causing
them to grow faster and clump together quicker to create new tissue. According to the study,
curcumin caused muscle cells to fuse together twice as fast as they ordinarily would.
It's not known exactly how curcumin works. Researchers do know, however, that curcumin
suppresses a factor that influences growth factors. This factor, NF B (nuclear factor kappa B),
plays a prominent role in immunity and cell growth. Immediately after muscle injury, the immune
system dispatches cells to the area. Their job is to destroy old tissue and begin new construction.
NF B is one of the lines of communication immune cells use to get things done. By influencing NF
B, curcumin modulates the repair process.
The regeneration of muscle is a complex phenomenon. Curcumin works in part by changing the
arrival time and status of chemical messengers known as cytokines. Cytokines appear at the scene
early on, and they have a powerful effect on inflammation and cell growth. A cytokine known as IL-6
(interleukin-6), for example, makes muscle cells multiply. Another one called TNF (tumor necrosis
factor) keeps cells from growing up, developing. By suppressing one, and enhancing the other,
curcumin can speed things up.
The authors of the study believe that curcumin works by other mechanisms that probably involve
growth factors, but this has not been proven yet. In other attempts to make muscles regenerate,
researchers have tried injecting synthetic growth factors or transplanting myoblasts–all with limited
success. Curcumin seems to be a much safer, more effective treatment – at least in the early
stages. The effects of curcumin are felt early on–right after injury when the body first sends out the
repair squads.
So if you want to try curcumin for muscle regeneration, make sure you take it as soon as the injury
occurs. The authors of the study predict that curcumin may be useful not only for accidental
injuries or sports, but also to help repair surgical damage.
Thaloor D, et al. 1999. Systemic administration of the NF- B inhibitor curcumin stimulates muscle
regeneration after traumatic injury. Am J Physiol 277(2 pt 1):C320-29.
Accelerated Healing
Wound treatment may be enhanced by curcumin, it turns out. In an experiment using groups of
curcumin-treated and untreated rats and guinea pigs, researchers discovered "faster wound
closure" in the treated animals compared to their untreated counterparts. Subsequent biopsies of
the wounds showed redevelopment of epidermal cells, increased migration of various other cells to
the wound site like myofibroblasts, fibroblasts and macrophages, and extensive re-growth of blood
vessels.
As a follow-up to a study, scientists reached similar results among diabetic rodents who
experienced impaired healing. The researchers found improved blood vessel formation, increased
cell migration to the wound site, and higher levels of collagen, a fibrous protein found in connective
tissue, bone and cartilage.
Sidhu GS et al. Enhancement of wound healing by curcumin in animals. Wound Repair Regen
1998 Mar-Apr;6(2):167-77.
Sidhu GS et al. Curcumin enhances wound healing in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and
genetically diabetic mice. Wound Repair Regen 1999 Sep-Oct;7(5):362-74.
Go to the Gym
With Curcumin
With Curcumin