New Study Demonstrates Significant Pain Relief

Some nutrients can reduce existing inflammation, while others may help resolve inflammation.

Winding down the flow of inflammation at its source is vital to maintain healthy, functional tissues.¹

Compounds that actively promote the resolution of inflammation are known as specialized pro-resolving mediators or SPMs.²

A clinical study published in 2022 demonstrates that taking SPM precursors along with bioavailable curcumin deliver significant relief of pain and discomfort.³

In just 30 days, the combination significantly reduced:

• Total pain,
• Pain intensity, and
• Pain severity.

After 60 days, a remarkable 79% of participants had an improvement in total pain.

New Human Study

Curcumin, a compound found in the turmeric plant, is well-established as a particularly powerful anti-inflammatory and an important nutrient to reduce inflammation.^4,5

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are compounds produced in the body that resolve inflammation, helping return inflamed tissues back to their healthy state.²

Scientists wondered whether combining SPM precursors with curcumin might more thoroughly reduce inflammation and thus have an impact on pain.

A 2022 open-label clinical pilot study recruited healthy male and female adults with mild to moderate pain.³

Every day for 60 days, 29 participants were asked to take:

• One softgel containing 500 mg of a marine oil enriched with three SPM precursors, and
• One capsule containing 500 mg of a highly bioavailable (absorbable) curcumin.
• Participants completed three well-known questionnaires used to measure pain, quality of life, and overall health:
• Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire ( SF-MPQ),
• Short-Form 36 Health Survey ( SF-36), and
• Medical Symptoms Questionnaire ( MSQ).

Compelling Results

The results of the study were published in Translational Medicine Communications, a peer- reviewed medical journal.

The SF-MPQ (Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire) responses showed significant improvements in all aspects of the questionnaire within 30 days, especially in:³

• Total pain,
• Pain intensity, and
• Pain severity.

The SF-36 (Short-Form 36 Health Survey) questionnaire showed significant improvements in:³

• Four aspects of physical health, especially pain and physical function, and
• Perceived health change.

The MSQ (Medical Symptoms Questionnaire) results showed:³

• Significant reduction in joint/muscle pain.

An impressive 62% of participants had an improved total pain score at 30 days, and 79% of participants showed improvement in total pain at 60 days.

No adverse events were reported.³

This strongly suggests that taking SPM precursors with a bioavailable form of curcumin delivers significant relief of pain and discomfort associated with inflammation.

Difference Between Anti-Inflammatories and SPMs

Curcumin and SPM precursors target inflammation in completely different ways.

Curcumin and other anti-inflammatories work to reduce body inflammation levels.

This is helpful but not enough to completely restore health, since inadequate resolution can lead to chronic inflammation, excessive tissue damage, and dysregulation of tissue healing, and may also lead to fibrosis.⁶

Hence, inflammation needs to be resolved, to get tissues back to their healthy, functional state.

Resolution of inflammation is a complex, active process guided by specific signaling compounds produced in the body.^7,8 Among these compounds are specialized pro-resolving mediators.

How SPMs Resolve Inflammation

SPM precursors are predominantly derived from EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil.

The precursors needed to produce SPMs in the body include:⁹

• 18-HEPE (18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid),
• 17-HDHA (17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid), and
• 14-HDHA (14-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid).

The marine-blend softgels used in the 2022 study provided a total of 300 mcg of these three SPM precursors.³

These precursors are converted in the body into three different types of SPMs: resolvins, protectins, and maresins.^3,10

These make up the bulk of the SPMs that target inflammation. They do so through three mechanisms:^10-12

• Removing dead and dying cells, helping to clean up the aftermath of inflammatory cascades,
• Restoring inflammation balance by decreasing pro-inflammatory mediators and increasing anti-inflammatory compounds, and
• Renewing damaged tissue by promoting cellular regeneration.

Evidence for Curcumin and SPM Benefits

Before researchers tested the combined effects of SPM precursors and curcumin, many studies had shown that each had benefits alone.

SPMs

Animal data showed promising results from the use of SPMs, including improvements in obesity-related osteoarthritis¹³ and in inflammation-induced neuropathic pain.¹⁴

A clinical trial found that oral intake of omega-3s increased SPM levels in the body by 229% and significantly lowered levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein.¹⁵

Another clinical study showed that taking marine oil enriched with a combination of SPM precursors (including 18-HEPE, 17-HDHA, and 14-HDHA) increased SPM levels and helped resolve inflammation.¹⁶

Curcumin

Curcumin is known for the curcuminoids and polyphenols found in the turmeric plant.¹⁷

A meta-analysis of eight human trials involving 606 patients found that curcuminoids significantly reduced pain severity from a variety of causes, including arthritis and muscle soreness.¹⁸

Another review paper concluded that curcumin was safe and has significant anti-inflammatory activity.⁵

Combining SPM precursors with a powerful anti-inflammatory like curcumin targets inflammation in multiple ways and results in clear pain reduction.

Summary

Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory that reduces existing inflammation.

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) help resolve inflammation, guiding tissues back to their healthy state.

A new human study shows that combining marine oil enriched with SPM precursors with a highly bioavailable curcumin improves subjective measures of pain and discomfort associated with inflammation.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

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