Longvida curcumin shows cognitive function and mood benefits in older folks: RCT

30-Jul-2019 - Last updated on 11-Sep-2019 at 18:59 GMT

Dietary supplementation with Verdure Science’s Longvida curcumin may improve mood and aspects of memory in healthy older people, says data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Writing in Current Developments in Nutrition, scientists from Swinburne University in Australia report that 400 mg per day of Longvida (providing 80 mg of curcumin) for 12 weeks was associated with better cognitive performance in select tests, and also less fatigue in the Profile of Mood States scale. This study was funded by a grant from Verdure Sciences.

The study is a follow-up to an earlier trial by the same researchers that examined the effects of curcumin supplementation over four weeks, compared to placebo.

“These results confirm that Longvida improves aspects of mood and working memory in a healthy older cohort,” wrote the researchers, led by Prof Andrew Scholey. “The pattern of results is consistent with improvements in hippocampal function and may hold promise for alleviating cognitive decline in some populations.”

The study’s findings were presented at Nutrition 2019 in Baltimore, and Prof Scholey cautioned that the data has not yet undergone full peer-review, although the conference abstracts were peer-reviewed.

“Nevertheless, the results of our second trial broadly support and extend the effects of the first study. We are currently further examining the effects of Lonvida on hippocampal functioning,” he added.

Blockbuster

The study adds to the ever-growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of turmeric and curcumin.

According to the 2017 Herb Market Report published by the American Botanical Council (HerbalGram 119), turmeric is the number one selling herb in the natural channel, with $50.3 million (12% growth year-over-year). It is number five in the mass channel (MULO) with $32.5 million in sales (48% growth y-o-y).

Study details

Curcumin supplements © Getty Images Torjrtrx — © Getty Images / Torjrtrx

The new study included 80 healthy people aged between 50 and 80 who were randomly assigned to received either 400 mg per day of the Longvida supplement or placebo for 12 weeks. Prof Scholey and his co-workers measured a range of outcomes at four and 12 weeks, including cognitive performance, measures of mood, cardiovascular function, and various other blood biomarkers.

Results showed that the supplement was well-tolerated with no severe adverse effects.

In addition, the curcumin group displayed significant improvements in working memory at 12 weeks, compared to the placebo group.

Significantly lower fatigue scores at 4 and 12 weeks were also reported for the curcumin group, compared to placebo. On the other hand, differences between the groups for tension, anger, confusion and total mood disturbance were only observed after 4 weeks, and not at the end of the study.

Commenting on the study’s findings, Kristen Marshall, Verdure’s marketing coordinator, said: “We are so excited to see additional support of Longvida’s efficacious capabilities to promote cognitive health and overall well-being.

“It is very impressive to see a second clinical trial by an astounding group of researchers conclusively support Longvida’s impact on cognitive biomarkers and influence on health.”

Awards recognition

Verdure was the recipient of the 2019 NutraIngredients-USA Award for Nutrition Research of the Year for the study, “Retinal amyloid pathology and proof-of-concept imaging clinical trial with Longvida Optimized Curcumin”, performed in collaboration with NeuroVision Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and UCLA.

Source: Current Developments in Nutrition
Volume 3, Issue Supplement_1, doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzz052.OR32-05-19
“A Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Extract Improves Neurocognitive Function and Mood in Healthy Older People: A 12-Week Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial”
Authors: A. Scholey, et al.