Cytokines are inflammatory markers triggering inflammation in common conditions.

The following research investigated if curcumin would have a significant impact on reducing important cytokines (Panahi Y, et.al., 2016).

The study was an analysis of a randomized controlled trial in which males and females diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome were given either 1000 mg of curcumin or a placebo every day for 8 weeks.

Patients with metabolic syndrome have insulin resistance, increased inflammation, increased blood pressure and usually an increase in waist circumference.
The comparison after 8 weeks showed significantly greater reductions in serum concentrations of TNF-α, TGF-β and MCP-1, all inflammatory cytokines, in the curcumin group when compared to the placebo group.

When taking curcumin be sure to use curcumin that has been produced to be better absorbed since regular curcumin is not well absorbed. Research on curcumin is conducted with better absorbed curcumin.

Reference

Panahi Y, Hosseini MS, Khalili N, Naimi E, Simental-Mendía LE, Majeed M, Sahebkar A. Effects of curcumin on serum cytokine concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Aug;82:578-82.