Curcumin has shown to have some promising benefits in the treatment of symptoms of depression.
Curcumin is an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals that cause inflammation, and they can reduce inflammation by reducing oxidative stress. Curcumin compounding pharmacy supplements could play a useful in combating depressive disorders.
American Integrative Pharmacy, led by the devoted Dr. Neema Yazdanpanah, provides safe and proven compounding treatments to patients in Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, South Bay Orange County, Southern California areas and nationwide.
How Curcumin May Help?
Depression is believed to be connected to a reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) levels and a shrinking hippocampus (a brain region linked to memory and learning).
Curcumin enhances the levels of BNDF potentially causing a reversal in some of these changes. There also exists evidence that curcumin can improve brain neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.
Recent Research Studies
Recent studies point to a connection between depression and chronic inflammation. It is still unclear whether inflammation leads to depression or the other way around. Regardless, research indicates the existence of a connection between chronic inflammation and depression.
A controlled trial randomized 60 depression patients into three groups. One group took Prozac, and another took one gram of curcumin. The third group took both Prozac and curcumin. Results after six weeks indicated that the group that took Prozac and curcumin together fared best. This study concluded that curcumin is an effective antidepressant.
According to a 2017 research study, curcumin mitigated symptoms of depression. It is effective by itself as well as when combined with saffron.
Two different studies in 2014 also had the same findings. The Journal of Affective Disorders published one study while the other featured in Phytotherapy Research. These studies revealed that curcumin was equally effective when used by itself.
Curcumin use with Prescription Antidepressants
A 2015 study concluded that curcumin renders antidepressants more effective.
It is still unclear if curcumin use along with antidepressants is more effective than the use of curcumin by itself.
Research Study in China
The Aug 2015 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology published a study based on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that took place at Tianjin Anding Hospital, China. This study sought to understand the effects of antidepressant supplementation with curcumin.
Results suggest that in comparison to placebo, six weeks of supplementing with curcumin majorly decreased the patient’s score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. It also led to a reduction in salivary cortisol and inflammatory cytokines while simultaneously enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.
The authors elaborated that these findings point to the potential effectiveness of curcumin in the reversal of depression development and improving the results of antidepressant treatments for major depressive disorder.
Similarly, a 2014 research study concluded that six weeks of curcumin supplementation reduced HAM-D17 scores in MDD patients. However, in this randomized controlled trial treatment with fluoxetine, whether used alone or combined with curcumin, was no more effective than curcumin alone.
New Findings
Researchers are trying to understand whether they can target the inflammatory system. This may translate into antidepressant properties for some individuals.
The findings of the researchers indicate that this approach may be particularly well-suited for atypical depression patients, which is a subgroup with, especially high inflammation levels. Curcumin can be pivotal in the reduction of inflammation.
AIP offers online prescription refills for various compounded medications and supplements to patients in Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, South Bay Orange County, Southern California areas and nationwide.
For more information on compound pharmacy medications available or to make an online prescription purchase, please click here or call Toll Free 1-855-247-7948.
American Integrative Pharmacy is located in Lomita, CA serving residents in and around Orange County, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Torrance and surrounding areas. Online prescription sales are available across the US.
