Report Title

The Effects of Oral Curcumin and Bioperine Supplementation on C - reactive protein In CrossFit Athletes

Collective Title

Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Research Reports 2017

Abstract

PURPOSE. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase inflammatory marker which circulates in blood plasma and rises in the presence of systemic inflammation. Strenuous exercise, such as that performed by CrossFit athletes, has been found to acutely raise CRP levels. Curcumin has demonstrated the ability to reduce CRP levels by blunting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines secondary to the suppression of the NF- κB pathway. Concomitant graduate research administration of bioperine with curcumin improves bioavailability by 2,000%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral curcumin and bioperine supplementation on CRP levels in CrossFit athletes. METHODS. Sixteen CrossFit athletes (Male 56.3%, Female 43.8%) provided pre-intervention CRP samples through a finger stick blood draw. Participants were given a combined curcumin (2g) and bioperine (20μg) supplement to be administered with their first meal of the day following 28 days after initial CRP testing. Participants were instructed to continue their usual exercise, dietary, and lifestyle practices over the duration of the study. On the 28th day of supplementation, participants provided a final CRP blood sample. Pre- and post-intervention CRP samples were evaluated using a paired t-test. RESULTS. Curcumin and bioperine supplementation resulted in a mean decrease in CRP levels of 0.26 ± 2.27 mg/L; however, this reduction failed to reach statistical significance (p = .65). Overall, five participants (31.3%) showed an increase in CRP at follow-up, five participants (31.3%) showed a decrease in CRP, and six participants (37.5%) showed no observable changes in CRP at follow-up, likely due to CRP levels below the testing sensitivity threshold. CONCLUSION. The majority of CrossFit athletes evaluated in this study had clinically low or below sensitivity threshold levels of CRP. A lack of measurable data from six participants with CRP levels below testing sensitivity threshold reduced the statistical power of our study. CRP levels in CrossFit athletes should be studied further using larger sample sizes and more sensitive testing devices given the apparent low CRP levels in this population.

LLU Discipline

Nutrition and Dietetics

Department

Nutrition and Dietetics

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

Sheen, Cory

Second Advisor

Noval, Jeje

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2017

Date (Title Page)

2017

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Curcumin; Curcuma--physiology; C-Reactive Protein; Athletes

Keywords

Curcumin; C-reactive protein; CrossFit; Bioperine

Type

Research Report

Page Count

21 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Collection Website

scholarsrepository.llu.edu/rr/

Repository

Loma Linda University. University Libraries.

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