The Effects of Nano-Curcumin Supplementation on Th2/Tregulatory Axis in Migraine Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Publisher Pubmed



Djalali M¹ ; Abdolahi M² ; Hosseini R³ ; Miraghajani M^{4, 5} ; Mohammadi H⁶ ; Djalali M¹
Source: International Journal of Neuroscience Published:2023

Abstract

Aim: In the present study we aimed to investigate the effects of nano-curcumin supplementation on gene expression and serum levels of IL-4 and TGF-β in migraine patients. Methods: Forty participants with episodic migraine were randomly allocated to receive 80 mg nano-curcumin (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) in a randomized double-blind clinical trial for two months. At the beginning and the end of the study, the interictal serum levels and gene expression of IL-4 and TGF-β in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from migraine patients were measured, using ELISA and real-time PCR methods, respectively. Results: Intra-group assays showed a significant rise in the gene expression of both IL-4 and TGF-β (p < 0.05) in nano-curcumin group after two months of treatment, however the serum levels were only significantly changed for IL-4 (p < 0.05). On the contrast, inter-group assays revealed no statistical differences between nano-curcumin and placebo group in terms of IL-4 and TGF-β gene expression, while the serum levels of IL-4 was observed to be increased significantly (p = 0.03) following two month nano-curcumin supplementation. Conclusion: The findings of the present trial suggest that the treatment with nano-curcumin could induce significant levels of IL-4, in favour of anti-inflammatory effects, while has a minimal effects on the both gene expression and serum levels of TGF-β. Further studies are required to determine the exact mechanism of action of curcumin in patients with migraine. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.