Inflammatory and Oxidative Patterns Regulated by Theracurmin Intake in an Experimental Model of Hypertrophic Training and Detraining

Dietary supplements have improved performance and muscle hypertrophy in athletes and nonathletes in the past few decades. Theracurmin, a nutraceutical supplement based on curcumin, has been highlighted by its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in physiological and pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of theracurmin intake (300 mg/kg), containing 30 mg/kg of curcumin, in male Swiss mice (n = 66) under distinct protocols of climbing stairs (strength exercise) and their respective detraining period. Animals, aged 7-9 weeks, were trained for 8 weeks (5 days/week), with a minimum interval of 24 hr between each session, followed by a 4-week detraining period. After euthanasia, skeletal muscle hypertrophy was evaluated through histological analysis. Tissue inflammatory release of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and chemokine C-C motif ligand 2, as well as the activity of oxidative stress enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation), were also assessed. In trained animals, inflammatory mediators and skeletal muscle mass increased after training (p = .0004). Theracurmin did not revert the muscle hypertrophy, but it decreased tissue chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (p = .0001) and lipid peroxidation (p < .0001) after strength training and after detraining (p = .0008 and p = .001, respectively). Tissue tumor necrosis factor was only reduced during the detraining period (p = .037), whereas IL-6 (p = .0001) and IL-10 (p < .0001) increased after the training protocol. No differences were observed in catalase and superoxide dismutase. Our data suggest that theracurmin intake contributes to the reduction of tissue inflammatory mediators during strength training and/or detraining without essential activity on skeletal muscle hypertrophy.