Action of curcumin in the attenuation of muscular atrophy and sarcopenia: a narrative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36453/cefe.2025.34232

Keywords:

curcumin, musculoskeletal system, atrophy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle is essential for the human body, but it can suffer degradation due to physiological or pathological factors. Research with phytochemicals, especially curcumin from turmeric, indicates positive effects on the recovery and prevention of muscle atrophy, such as a decrease in proteins involved in catabolism, reduction of inflammation and free radicals, as well as improvements in muscle and mitochondrial function.
OBJECTIVE: Carry out a review of studies that demonstrate the action of curcumin on skeletal muscles in order to verify its benefits, if any, in the condition of muscular atrophy.
METHODS: The work consists of a narrative review of experimental studies alive previously selected using the databases PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus and Wiley Online Library as research. and the keywords: muscular atrophy e curcumin.
RESULTS: The research obtained eighteen (n=18) studies, fifteen (n=15) experimental studies with animals and three (n=3) experimental studies with humans. A general decrease in muscle atrophic signaling was observed through the inhibition of enzymes participating in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and protein ubiquitination, in addition to the reduction of inflammatory mediators, activity of fator nuclear kappa beta and free radical containment.
CONCLUSION: The results tend to indicate that curcumin can inhibit or attenuate muscle atrophy caused by different scenarios, but even more studies are needed, especially clinical ones, to prove its action and effectiveness.

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References

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Published

02-09-2025

How to Cite

REGULA, C. O.; PORTARI, G. V. Action of curcumin in the attenuation of muscular atrophy and sarcopenia: a narrative review. Caderno de Educação Física e Esporte, Marechal Cândido Rondon, v. 23, p. e34232, 2025. DOI: 10.36453/cefe.2025.34232. Disponível em: https://saber.unioeste.br/index.php/cadernoedfisica/article/view/34232. Acesso em: 17 sep. 2025.