Curcumin and depression
Patients taking antidepressants suffer from several side effects. In 63% of cases, there is anxiety, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, weight gain, and sexual disorders. Some patients do not respond to medication at all, and their number is 17%.
The antidepressant effect of curcumin has been known for a long time. In a study on volunteers, it was found that there was no difference in the effects between curcumin and fluoxetine in the treatment of depression over 6 weeks. Curcumin has been shown to be beneficial in terms of no side effects. It is safe even in large doses – 8 grams per day. The curcumin- based drug is called BCM-95.
The use of curcumin itself is limited by poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, rapid destruction in the intestines, and slow absorption into the bloodstream. But the restored mixture of curcumin – the BCM-95 preparation does not have such disadvantages.
Clinical trials on volunteers have established that the bioavailability of BCM-95 is 7 times higher than that of curcumin . The active ingredient curcumin increases neurogenesis in the hippocampus , stimulates the synthesis of neurotrophic factor, and promotes the growth of new neurons. In addition, curcumin inhibits MAO-A and MAO-B monoamine oxidase isoenzymes , and affects the concentration of serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
It also has anti-inflammatory effects, reduces the secretion of inflammatory markers of astrocytes , inhibits cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), nitric oxide synthetase ( iNOS ), interleukin-1.
Curcumin- based drugs may become the mainstay in the treatment of depressive disorders.