Khara Lucius, ND

Category: GI

  • Combo of Curcumin or Resveratrol with Mediterranean Diet in People with Ulcerative Colitis

    Combo of Curcumin or Resveratrol with Mediterranean Diet in People with Ulcerative Colitis

    This was a small, short-term study in 46 people with mild-to-moderate active ulcerative colitis (UC). Subjects were randomized to one of three groups for 8 weeks:

    • Mediterranean Diet (MD)
    • MD plus curcumin 1600mg daily
    • MD plus resveratrol 500mg daily

    At the completion of the trial, all groups experienced significant reductions in CRP and ESR levels (p <0.05). Only the resveratrol group saw a significant improvement in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p =0.01).

    All groups also had significant reductions in the frequency of bowel movements (p= 0.001 for all). Regarding health-related QOL, all groups experienced statistically significant improvements (p<0.05); compared to the other groups, the resveratrol group subjects had even better pain scores (p<0.05), and the curcumin group reported even better social functioning (p<0.05).

    This trial lends support to the concept that the MD is safe and effective in people with mild or moderate UC. Is there a strong advantage to adding curcumin or resveratrol to the MD for these folks? In this trial, aside from some minor differences, there was not a big advantage. It does seem important to note that both curcumin and resveratrol are thought to suffer from poor bioavailability. The formulations of curcumin and resveratrol used in this particular trial do not specify any ingredients or manufacturing methods that would enhance bioavailability.

    Citation:

    Erol Doğan Ö, Karaca Çelik KE, Baş M, Alan EH, Çağın YF. Effects of Mediterranean Diet, Curcumin, and Resveratrol on Mild-to-Moderate Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2024 May 16;16(10):1504. doi: 10.3390/nu16101504.

    Link:

    Full text on Pub Med

  • Boswellia and Curcumin for Bloating in SIBO

    Boswellia and Curcumin for Bloating in SIBO

    This randomized controlled study assessed for the effects of a combination of Boswellia and Curcumin with low-FODMAP diet, compared to low-FODMAP diet alone, on abdominal bloating in IBS subjects with small bowel dysbiosis.

    Subjects were men or women ages 18 to 70 who had a diagnosis of moderate IBS according to Rome III criteria, and who reported bloating as their main symptom. SIBO was confirmed via urinary indican testing. Sixty-seven people enrolled, with 34 randomized to the control group, and 33 to the botanical medicine group.

    Curcumin was supplemented as a lecithin-based formulation along with a standardized extract of Boswellia serrata, at a dose of 500mg twice daily for 30 days. All subjects received dietary instruction on the low-FODMAP diet from the same dietician.

    At the conclusion of the trial, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups both for bloating and abdominal pain (p < 0.0001 for both). Additionally, 94% of subjects in the botanical medicine group achieved a grade 3 or grade 4 improvement in a global assessment of efficacy, while only 15% of people in the control group achieved this improvement.

    Citation:

    Giacosa, A.; Riva, A.; Petrangolini, G.; Allegrini, P.; Fazia, T.; Bernardinelli, L.; Peroni, G.; Rondanelli, M. Beneficial Effects on Abdominal Bloating with an Innovative Food-Grade Formulation of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata Extracts in Subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Small Bowel Dysbiosis. Nutrients 2022, 14, 416.

    Link:

    https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/3/416