Curcumin and Function in Older Adults

Inclusion criteria

• Age > 65 years
• Usual walking speed <1 m/sec and >0.44 m/sec on the 4 m walk
• Sedentary lifestyle (< 120 min per week of moderate intensity physical activity);
• CRP > 1.0 mg/dL
• Willingness and ability to give informed consent
• Willingness to be randomized to the intervention groups
• Availability for participation through duration of study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

(General)

• Unable to complete 400 meter walk test
• Failure or inability to provide informed consent
• Residence in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF); residence in an Assisted Living Facility (ALF) or independent housing is allowed
• Self-reported inability to walk one block
• Blood pressure readings >160/100
• Significant cognitive impairment, defined as a known diagnosis of dementia, or a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score <24
• Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss or speech disorder
• Clinically significant depression (CES-D score > 20)
• Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina
• Severe pulmonary disease, pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease
• Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease)
• Neurological conditions that cause impaired muscle function or mobility (e.g., Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS)
• Other significant co-morbid medical disease (e.g. renal failure with eGFR < 30 ml/minute or on hemodialysis) or severe psychiatric disorder (e.g. bipolar, schizophrenia)
• Terminal illness with life expectancy less than 12 months, as determined by a physician
• Excessive alcohol use, defined as more than 5 drinks/day for males or more than 4 drinks/day for females, or more than 14 drinks per week
• Current smoker or less than 3 years smoking cessation
• Participating in another clinical trial or receiving an investigational product within 3 months prior to screening/enrollment

Exclusion criteria

(Curcumin-related)

• Diabetes mellitus currently taking medications to lower blood glucose (oral or by injection)
• Current use of anticoagulant or anti-platelet medications (aspirin 81 mg daily is allowed)
• Congenital or acquired bleeding disorders
• Cholelithiasis or other gall bladder or biliary tract disease
• Chronic gastrointestinal blood loss or iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 12 ng/mL, with or without anemia)
• History of estrogen-sensitive conditions including breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers; endometriosis; and uterine fibroids
• History of Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, Hepatitis B or C, or other disease potentially compromising immune function
• Current use of medications targeting immune or inflammatory function (e.g., sulfasalazine)
• Current use of anabolic medications (i.e., growth hormones or testosterone), antidepressant medications and antipsychotic agents (including monoamine oxidase inhibitors), or anticholinesterase inhibitors (i.e., Aricept)

Temporary Exclusion Criteria

• Acute infection (urinary, respiratory, other) or hospitalization within 1 month
• Myocardial infarction, CABG, or valve replacement within past 6 months
• Pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within past 6 months
• Stroke, hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery within past 4 months
• Receiving physical therapy for gait, balance, or other lower extremity training