Curcumin
What is Curcumin?
Curcumin has been studied for its potential effects in a wide range of conditions from cancer to joint pain. However, curcumin’s ability to promote healthy gut bacteria, regulate neurobehavioral symptoms, and fight inflammation may be most notable for individuals with autism.
The spice plant turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa, contains the oil-soluble polyphenol called curcumin [14].
Polyphenols, such as curcumin, exhibit beneficial antioxidative effects by interrupting pro-inflammatory pathways of the gut-brain axis and increasing antioxidant responses in cells [3].
One of the main challenges of curcumin’s potential as a therapeutic agent is its low absorption. Various strategies have been used to increase curcumin’s uptake and absorption within the body such as including oil, decreasing particle size, or adding enhancers, like black pepper, into supplement formulas [9-10, 14].
According to the Food and Drug Administration, curcuminoids are considered GRAS or generally recognized as safe [10].
The poor absorption of curcumin is seen to be beneficial for gut health due to high curcumin concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract which promote a healthy lining and gut microbiota [6].
While we don’t have human studies available for curcumin and autism, there is some promising results in rats that showed curcumin supplementation increased social behaviors and object recognition and decreased repetitive or anxiety-related behaviors [2]. In a second animal study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin were observed by the restoration of regular body and brain weights in autism-induced rats [1].
For this reason, curcumin may reduce inflammation and help with stemming/repetitive behaviors anxiety in autism.
Sources of Curcumin
Turmeric root, powder, oil
Red curry powder or paste
Yellow curry powder or paste
Golden milk - also known as a turmeric latte
Turmeric energy drinks
Supplements
Dietary phytochemicals, such as curcumin, have obtained increasing attention for their potential neuroprotective effects [3]. Curcumin supplementation in clinical studies often range from 2-3 g/day and dosages up to 12 g/day have been observed without adverse effects in adults [5, 7]. Supplement levels are much lower than this maximum, however, and should be evaluated for potential drug interactions with current medications.
Examples of common curcumin supplements include:
Liquid
Leefy Prana Organics (use code AUTISMRD for 15% off!)
Dosing: Prana is considered safe for babies 12 months and older. Babies get just a few drops as their dose and young children start with 1/4-1/2 of a dropperful depending on their age. Here is the dosage for children 2+:
2-6yr olds 1/4-1/2 dropperful
6+ yr olds 1/2-1 dropperful
Adults 2 dropperfuls
Capsule/Softgel
Note: All supplements are linked to Amazon for convenience, however, buying supplements on Amazon does not guarantee quality, as there are many “unverified resellers” selling nutrition supplements. To buy supplements that are verified to be sent directly to the consumer, you can create an account on the Autism Dietitian FullScript and search for the respective supplement under “Catalog”.
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any supplement or medication, always consult with your healthcare provider to ensure it is a good fit for your child. Dosage can vary based on age, weight, gender, and current diet.
Curcumin & Autism in the Research
Curcumin & Autism
Curcumin supplementation increased social behaviors and object recognition while decreasing repetitive or anxiety-related behaviors in autism-induced rats, proving its potential as a therapeutic to regulate neurobehavioral symptoms of autism [2].
In a second animal study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin were observed by the restoration of regular body and brain weights in autism-induced rats [1].
Neuroprotection
Curcumin upregulates antioxidative pathways to prevent cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation, three events often amplified in individuals with Alzheimer's Disease [11, 3].
Despite its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, conflicting research has been shown on curcumin’s influence on neurodegenerative diseases [11].
In a study on depression-like behavior, curcumin supplementation decreased depression-associated behaviors and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine in mice subjects [15].
Gut Health
By increasing good microbes in the gut, curcumin has the potential to prevent dysbiosis, an imbalance associated with decreased good bacteria levels leading to neuroinflammation [6, 13].
Curcumin has been observed to mimic the actions of steroid medications used for intestinal inflammatory diseases by promoting healthy intestinal lining structure and lowering overactive immune cell function [4, 8].
Antioxidant Effects
Curcumin administration has been dose-dependently shown to decrease unwanted pro-inflammatory markers, TNF-a and MMP-9, which are generally elevated in individuals with autism [2].
Cancer
Curcumin is considered a chemopreventive agent due to its antioxidant, cancer blocking, and anti-growth properties [12]. For example, curcumin has been observed to regulate the body’s inflammatory pathways and reduce cancer-related bacteria levels in the gut [5, 6].
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[3] Bhandari R, Paliwal JK, Kuhad A. Dietary phytochemicals as neurotherapeutics for autism spectrum disorder: plausible mechanism and evidence. In: Essa MM, Qoronfleh MW, eds. Personalized Food Intervention and Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder Management. Vol 24. Springer International Publishing; 2020:615-646.
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[9] Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Curcumin: a review of its’ effects on human health. Foods. 2017;6(10).
[10] Kotha RR, Luthria DL. Curcumin: biological, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and analytical aspects. Molecules. 2019;24(16).
[11] Mhillaj E, Tarozzi A, Pruccoli L, Cuomo V, Trabace L, Mancuso C. Curcumin and heme oxygenase: neuroprotection and beyond. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(10).
[12] Park W, Amin ARMR, Chen ZG, Shin DM. New perspectives of curcumin in cancer prevention. Cancer Prev Res. 2013;6(5):387-400.
[13] Pluta R, Januszewski S, Ułamek-Kozioł M. Mutual two-way interactions of curcumin and gut microbiota. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(3).
[14] Stohs SJ, Chen O, Ray SD, Ji J, Bucci LR, Preuss HG. Highly bioavailable forms of curcumin and promising avenues for curcumin-based research and application: a review. Molecules. 2020;25(6).
[15] Trebatická J, Ďuračková Z. Psychiatric disorders and polyphenols: can they be helpful in therapy? Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2015;2015:248529.
Authors
Sarah Reale, Dietetic Intern
Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
