Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is key for the maintenance of normal neuronal function and energy homeostasis and has been suggested to improve cognitive function, including learning and memory. Iron and the antioxidant curcumin have been shown to influence BDNF homeostasis. This 6-week, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of oral iron supplementation at low (18 mg) and high (65 mg) ferrous (FS) iron dosages, compared to a combination of these iron doses with a bioavailable formulated form of curcumin (HydroCurc^TM; 500 mg) on BDNF levels in a healthy adult cohort of 155 male (26.42 years ± 0.55) and female (25.82 years ± 0.54) participants. Participants were randomly allocated to five different treatment groups: both iron and curcumin placebo (FS0+Plac), low dose iron and curcumin placebo (FS18+Plac), low dose iron and curcumin (FS18+Curc), high dose iron and curcumin placebo (FS65+Plac) and high dose iron and curcumin (FS65+Curc). Results showed a significant increase in BDNF over time (26%) in the FS18+Curc group (p = 0.024), and at end-point between FS18+Curc and FS18+Plac groups (35%, p = 0.042), demonstrating for the first time that the combination with curcumin, rather than iron supplementation alone, results in increased serum BDNF. The addition of curcumin to iron supplementation may therefore provide a novel approach to further enhance the benefits associated with increased BDNF levels.

中文翻译：

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铁与生物可利用姜黄素补充剂的共同管理可增加健康成年人的血清BDNF水平。

脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）是维持正常神经元功能和能量稳态的关键，并已被建议改善认知功能，包括学习和记忆。铁和抗氧化剂姜黄素已被证明会影响BDNF的体内平衡。这项为期6周，双盲，随机，安慰剂对照的研究检查了低剂量（18 mg）和高剂量（65 mg）亚铁（FS）铁剂量下口服补铁的效果，并将这些铁剂量与姜黄素（HydroCurc ^TM; 健康成年人队列中155名男性（26.42岁±0.55）和女性（25.82岁±0.54）参与者的BDNF水平为500 mg。将参与者随机分配到五个不同的治疗组：铁和姜黄素安慰剂（FS0 + Plac），低剂量铁和姜黄素安慰剂（FS18 + Plac），低剂量铁和姜黄素（FS18 + Curc），高剂量铁和姜黄素安慰剂（FS65 + Plac）和高剂量铁和姜黄素（FS65 + Curc）。结果显示，FS18 + Curc组的BDNF随时间显着增加（26％）（p = 0.024），而FS18 + Curc组和FS18 + Plac组之间的终点（35％，p= 0.042），这首次表明与姜黄素联合使用而不是单独补充铁会导致血清BDNF升高。因此，在补充铁中添加姜黄素可能会提供一种新颖的方法，以进一步增强与增加的BDNF水平相关的益处。