4. Discussion
pneumonia, inflammation, ARDS, infection, cold-like
PNEUMONIA, INFLAMMATION, DISEASE, INFECTION, ARDS, ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME, INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE
In this double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel arm trial, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of ingesting 500 mg of HydroCurc twice daily on circulating inflammatory biomarkers in adults who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 and were subsequently vaccinated, compared to placebo. Specifically, after four weeks of supplementation, the CURC group had significantly lower mean concentrations of circulating IL-6 (Curcumin ((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is the primary bioactive polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric, which has been used in the context of traditional Asian medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-oxidative properties [In this present study, key indicators of inflammation (IL-6 and MCP-1) rose significantly in the control group over the course of the 4-week study in comparison to the curcumin supplemented group. These data suggest that curcumin supplementation may help to manage inflammation and promote resilience. MCP-1 is a chemokine produced in response to inflammatory stimuli which promotes monocyte chemotaxis and modulates leukocyte trafficking, further propagating the inflammatory response [Curcumin has been demonstrated to suppress the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and MCP-1, from lung tissue in a murine model of virus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), potentially through a reduction in NF-κB activation [Importantly, there is promising evidence from clinical trials to support the anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in adults with varying levels of health. A recent meta-analysis examining the effects of curcumin on circulating IL-6 in various adult populations from nine clinical trials, found that supplementation significantly reduced IL-6 concentrations [The present study is not without limitations, such as the small sample size (COVID-19 has placed significant economic and societal burdens on the global population. Upon infection with SARS-CoV-2, the presentation of COVID-19 symptoms spans mild cold-like manifestations to pneumonia and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, with the severity of disease being associated with the dysregulated release of cytokines [