Curcumin and Resveratrol Help Reduce Inflammation
Systemic inflammation in obese individuals is often the result of adipose tissue release inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins. In comparison to healthy individuals, higher levels of these inflammatory markers can increase the risks of cardiovascular disease and ailments like metabolic syndrome and diabetes which are associated with insulin resistance.
For obese individuals, the obvious answer to reducing potentially pathological systemic inflammation would be to lose weight. However, we all know that the obvious answers often conflict with psychological dependencies and would require complete restructuring of the subject’s lifestyle which often not practical for short term treatment. Researchers have been looking at complimentary over the counter solutions to help reduce inflammation in a cost effective manner which leads us to two compounds researched at the University of New Mexico School of Medicines Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Resveratrol and curcumin both proved to limit NF-?B activation in adipocytes. Now some of you are probably wondering what the heck NF-?B is? It stands for nuclear factor-kappa B and it binds to DNA to initiate the transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA. Basically this means it in part helps to increase or decrease gene expression. Indeed both resveratrol and curcumin helped reduced TNF?, IL-1?, IL-6, and COX-2 gene expression by limiting NF-?B activation. These are all considered to be the more prevalent inflammation related genetic factors.
So what does this mean? Basically, these two compounds offer a preventative approach to inflammation induced cardiovascular and insulin resistance related pathologies as well as complimentary approach to systemic inflammation. While the effects of curcumin are well known in this area of research be sure to look out for a variety of studies illustrating how diverse the applications of resveratrol supplementation can be.
Gonzales AM, Orlando RA. Curcumin and resveratrol inhibit Nuclear Factor-kappaB-mediated cytokine expression in adipocytes. Nutrition & Metabolism (Lond). 2008 Jun 12;5(1):17.
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