Curcuma longa Root Helps Improve Asthma Control in Children and Adolescents

by | Feb 17, 2020 | 2019, Asthma, Botanicals, Infant and Children's Health, Lung Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Curcuma longa root complements standard asthma treatment by promoting better sleep, and better disease control in asthmatic children and adolescents.

turmeric - curcuminAsthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation of the airways and symptoms such as wheezing and coughing 1. While standard treatment for asthma today involves the use of oral corticosteroids and short-acting beta-adrenergic agonists for acute attacks, traditional medicines have relied on the use of herbal plants like C. longa (turmeric), which possess benefits for respiratory diseases like asthma 2. Curcumin, a naturally occurring compound in turmeric responsible for the herb’s yellow color 3, is well-known for a host of potent biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties 4-6. In animal models of asthma, curcumin has been shown to significantly reduce bronchial hyper-responsiveness 7,8. Both turmeric and curcumin have also been demonstrated to alleviate airway inflammation and decrease inflammatory cytokine levels 9,10, while curcumin in particular shows the ability to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation in the airways 11. Although preclinical evidence of C. longa’s potential efficacy for asthma is robust, clinical studies in humans are still lacking. Thus, in a study 12 published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2019), researchers tested the impact of orally administered powdered C. longa root in children and adolescents with persistent asthma.

A total of 34 children and adolescents (aged 7-18 years) with persistent asthma were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. In addition to standard treatment, patients were randomly assigned to ingest powdered C. longa root (approximately 500 mg/day for 7-10 year-olds, 750 mg/day for 11-14 year-olds, and 1000 mg/day for 15-18 year-olds; approximately 20, 30, and 40 mg/kg/day of curcuminoids, respectively) or matching placebo daily for 6 months. Patients underwent a pulmonary function test and were prospectively categorized for asthma severity and asthma control, based on the Global Initiative for Asthma 2016 Guidelines.

Results showed that both treatment groups experienced a similar reduction in symptom frequency and lower interference with normal activity from baseline to Month 6. However, no significant between-group differences were observed. Compared to the placebo group, participants in the C. longa root group did report significantly less nighttime awakenings (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001 at Month 3 and Month 6, respectively) and less frequent use of short-acting beta-adrenergic agonists (p < 0.05, p < 0.0001). The C. longa group also demonstrated significantly better disease control than placebo at the 3-month (p < 0.01) and 6-month timepoint (p < 0.01). No adverse effects were reported in the C. longa group.

Overall, evidence from the study suggests that administration of powdered C. longa root over a period of 6 months can significantly improve asthma control in children and adolescents with moderate to severe asthma. When combined with standard treatment, C. longa supplementation was associated with reduced nighttime awakenings and lower frequency of beta-adrenergic medication use. At the end of 3 and 6 months, patients in the C. longa group demonstrated better asthma control as well. The current study provides clinical evidence for the therapeutic utility of C. longa root for moderate to severe asthma in children and adolescents. Further studies are needed to replicate findings in adults and in patients with milder forms of asthma. Future investigations should also compare C. longa supplementation, independent of standard treatment, against an active control group. Study limitations to consider include a high dropout rate among participants (38% lost to follow up) and the use of a relatively low dose of C. longa.

Source: Manarin G, Anderson D, e Silva JM, et al. Curcuma longa L. ameliorates asthma control in children and adolescents: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2019; 238: 111882. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.111882.

© 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Posted February 17, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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