Curcumin prevents muscle damage by regulating NF-kB and Nrf2 pathways and improves performance: an in vivo model

Kazim Sahin,1Ragip Pala,2Mehmet Tuzcu,3 Oguzhan Ozdemir,3 Cemal Orhan,1 Nurhan Sahin,1 Vijaya Juturu4 1Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2Department of Movement and Training Science, 3Department of Biology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey; 4OmniActive Health Technologies Inc., Morristown, NJ, USA Purpose: Exercise (Ex) increases reactive oxygen species and impairs antioxidant defense systems. Recent data suggest that curcumin (CW) possesses peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activity and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of CW supplementation on Ex performance, endurance, and changes in serum and muscle proteins in rats after exhaustive Ex.Materials and methods: Twenty-eight (28) male Wistar rats (age: 8weeks and body weight: 180±20g) were divided into four treatment groups: 1) control (C; no Ex), 2) C + CW (no Ex + CW), 3) C + Ex, and 4) C + Ex + CW (Ex + CW). CW was administered as 100mg/kg CurcuWin®, providing 20mg of curcuminoids daily for 6weeks. A motor-driven rodent treadmill was used to carry out the Ex protocols. During a 5-day period, animals in chronic Ex groups were put through different regimens: day 1, 10m/min for 10minutes; day 2, 20m/min for 10minutes; day 3, 25m/min for 10minutes; day 4, 25m/min for 20minutes; and day 5, 25m/min for 30minutes. Animals were exercised at 25m/min for 45min/d for 5d/wk for 6weeks. Blood and muscle samples were analyzed for muscle markers, oxidative stress, and antioxidant markers.Results: Lactate and muscle malondialdehyde levels decreased in the CW-treated groups (P