Curcumin and Astaxanthin for Lowering Triglyceride Readings and Inflammation

Background Moderately high readings for serum TG have been thought to place many people at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other problems. However, for a few years, doubts were expressed about high TG as an independent risk factor for CVD and maybe other problems in most people. More recently, the tide has begun to turn back due to new studies and new attention to old studies. Now, TG readings are again being thought to affect vulnerability to CVD, fatty liver, high blood sugar, and other problems including general inflammation. Some of these studies have shown evidence that TG effects can be independent of LDL or total cholesterol readings. Also, one of these studies suggest that even dropping TG readings from the top of the normal range to lower values can produce benefits.

People with TG readings between the top of the normal range to moderately high usually do not take drugs to lower TG values. Therefore, a need exists for cost effective, low side effect alternatives to help maintain normal TG readings. Nutritional supplements could fit in here. The Dietary Supplement and Education Act (DSHEA) allows for structure function claims of helping maintain blood lipids in the normal range. Low level general inflammation, which falls below what's seen with inflammatory diseases or injury, can also raise the risk for many health problems. Drugs are not generally employed to minimize this type of inflammation. So, as with moderately high TG readings, relatively safe and inexpensive non-drug alternatives can be sought (including nutritional supplements).

This researcher has found that under certain conditions, two natural ingredients each lower TG readings. One ingredient is a high absorption form of curcumin extract from the spice turmeric (Longvida Optimized Curcumin®). A dose of 400 mg per day (80 mg curcumin) lowered TG levels in healthy middle aged women. Aanother group has found that a third ingredient, astaxanthin can produce a substantial drop in TG values. A dose of 12 mg/day was more effective than 6 mg but the same as 18 mg. Also of note, readings for HDL cholesterol, the so called good cholesterol, rose a little. Another astaxanthin study found a drop in TG values in people with type 2 diabetes. A TG lowering effect of astaxanthin has also been seen in animal studies.

It's doubtful that any of these three ingredients could produce the really large TG drops needed by people with very high values. Even so, for people in the borderline to moderately high range, these ingredients, especially in combination, could help maintain normal range values.

Eventually, a combination product could be made of astaxanthin + Longvida Optimized Curcumin® + the third ingredient. However, there is work to be done before that can be considered. One lacking is that three ingredients have never been tried in combination. But, even before trying that, another issue must be addressed. For all three ingredients, the human research cited above have all been done in subjects whose TG readings were good to begin with. Therefore, it is not known how these ingredients, combined or individually, will affect TG readings in people with higher starting values.