Oral curcumin supplementation in patients with atopic asthma
Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2011; 2(2):e51–e53. doi:10.2500/ar.2011.2.0016
| Atopic asthma is a type of asthma in and is characterized by eosinophilic airway inflammation associated with specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies sensitization to various allergens. The pathology involves excess recruitment of immune cells in the lungs and secretion of various pro-inflammatory cytokines which results in visual symptoms of asthma such as short breath, bronchial congestion and excess secretion of mucus. Preclinical evaluations strongly suggest that the curcumin possesses antioxidant properties, inhibitory property against the secretion of both pro-inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6), inhibitory effect on the expression and release of eotaxin, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 from IL-1–stimulated human airway smooth muscle cells. There are few human studies which evaluated the effect of curcumin on the asthma condition. |
Objective:
To determine the effect of oral curcumin supplementation on patients with stable, persistent, atopic asthma.
Methods:
Nine patients with stable, persistent asthma with evidence of allergic sensitization were randomized into the supplementation arm and administered with 1000 mg of curcumin twice daily and six were randomized into the placebo. Subjects were followed for 6 months and performed monthly spirometry (pre- and post-bronchodilator); Asthma Control Test (ACT) scoring; and measurements for fractional excretion of nitric oxide (NO), serum eosinophil count, leukocyte count, total IgE, specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), use of rescue albuterol, and dose of inhaled corticosteroid.
Results:
Conclusion
Further studies are needed to properly address the implications of curcumin in atopic asthma.