Sugawara et al. aimed to test the hypothesis that regular
endurance exercise combined with daily Theracurmin ingestion
lowers the age-related increase in LV afterload to a greater extent
than either intervention alone in postmenopausal women in a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Forty-five
women were randomly assigned to four groups: placebo only,
Theracurmin only, exercise training with placebo ingestion, and
exercise training with Theracurmin ingestion. Theracurmin
(curcumin: 150 mg/day) or matching placebo were administered
for 8 weeks. Aortic BP and augmentation index (Alx), an index of LV
afterload, were evaluated by pulse wave analysis from tonometrically
measured radial arterial pressure waveforms. There were no
significant differences in baseline hemodynamic variables among
the four groups.