Known best as the substance in turmeric that gives the curry spice its characteristic yellow color, curcumin has been found by previous studies to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, and lipid-lowering effects. Curcumin may also help with mental health concerns, notably – anxiety. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, from the University of California/Los Angeles (UCLA; California, USA), and colleagues employed in vitro cell culture tests and animal modeling, and observed that dietary curcumin has the potential to enhance conversion of alpha-linolenic acid, a docohexaenoic acid (DHA) precursor, in the liver. Writing that: curcumin enhances [docohexaenoic acid] synthesis, resulting in elevated brain [docohexaenoic acid] content,” the study authors conclude that: “These findings have important implications for human health and the prevention of cognitive disease, … since DHA is essential for brain function and its deficiency is implicated in many types of neurological disorders”.
Posted on May 19, 2015, 6 a.m. in Mental Health Functional Foods – Consumption of curcumin may boost levels of docohexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brain
