Effects of eight weeks of curcumin and Boswellia serrata supplementation on plasma markers of inflammation and antioxidant activity in chronic kidney disease patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 8 weeks of curcumin and Bowellia serrata supplementation on changes in systemic inflammation and antioxidant activity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Sixteen CKD patients (56.0 ± 16.0 years, 171.4 ± 11.9 cm, 99.3 ± 20.2 kg) were randomized in a double blind fashion to ingest a daily supplement composed of 1340 mg of curcumin and Boswellia serrata (824 mg purified turmeric extract, 95% curcuminoids and 516 mg Boswellia serrata extract, 10% 3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-Boswellic acid) or 1340 mg of a roasted rice powder placebo. Patients provided fasting blood samples pre- and post-supplementation in order to assess changes in systemic inflammation and antioxidant activity. A 2 x 2 repeated measures MANCOVA with a probability level of 0.05 was used for the statistical analysis. No significant changes (p > 0.05) were observed for the indicators of inflammation, represented by plasma interleukin-6 and plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha, as well as the indicator of antioxidant activity represented by plasma glutathione peroxidase. It appears that 8 weeks of curcumin and Boswellia serrata supplementation does not affect inflammation levels and antioxidant activity in CKD patients. More research is needed to determine the impact that curcumin and Boswellia serrata supplementation have on changes in inflammation and antioxidant activity in diseased populations.