Newly Developed Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Formulation, curcuRougeTM, Reduces Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in the Elderly: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported as a sensitive marker for predicting poor prognosis in chronic inflammation-based diseases such as stroke, heart failure, cancers, and diabetes, as well as acute inflammatory diseases such as bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19. NLR is also known to increase with age and is considered to be an aging marker. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in elderly volunteers to examine the effect of a newly developed, highly bioavailable curcumin formulation (curcuRouge^TM) on NLR. Both the white blood cell count and the neutrophil rate decreased significantly, and the lymphocyte rate increased significantly from baseline to after curcuRouge^TM administration for 4 wk. curcuRouge^TM significantly reduced the NLR (p=0.020). On the other hand, in the placebo group, there were no changes in white blood cell count, neutrophil ratio, lymphocyte ratio, or NLR. The present study demonstrates for the first time, in elderly volunteers, that administration of curcuRouge^TM significantly reduces NLR, an indicator of prognosis in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and aging. Thus, curcuRouge^TM might be expected to improve the prognosis of these diseases as well as exhibit anti-aging effects.

Keywords: anti-aging; curcuRougeTM; curcumin; inflammation; neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR).