Inflammation
Protocol development in integrative medicine is not typically a simple process. Individuals require individualized care, and what works for one patient may not work for another.
To establish these protocols, we first developed a Rating Scale that could be used to discern the rigor of evidence supporting a specific nutrient’s therapeutic effect.
The following protocols were developed using only A through C-quality evidence.
Inflammation can have both positive and negative health effects. Acute inflammation works with the immune system to address infectious and non-infectious cellular damage. (1) However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can seriously impact health. For example, studies have shown a correlation between chronic inflammation and all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular mortality. (10)(12)
Curcumin (Curcuma longa)
600–1,000 mg, total per day, minimum 8–10 weeks (4)(13)
- Curcumin decreased C-reactive protein (CRP) (-0.58 mg/l), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (-3.48 pg/ml), interleukin 6 (IL-6) (-1.31 pg/ml), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (-0.33 umol/l), and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (20.51 u/l) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (0.21 mmol/l). (3)
- In patients with various chronic diseases, curcumin decreased CRP (-3.67 mg/l) and hs-CRP concentrations. (4)
- Compared to placebo, curcumin decreased IL-6 by ~49%, TNF-α by ~63%, and MDA by ~38% in patients with diabetes mellitus. (13)
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
2.5 g, total per day, minimum 12 weeks (7)(15)
- In patients with various health conditions, omega-3s moderately decreased serum CRP, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α with a smaller effect. (5)
- Compared to placebo, omega-3 supplementation decreased total serum cortisol by 19% and IL-6 levels by 33% during a stressful event, and CRP by ~30%, IL-6 by ~22%, and TNF-α by ~16% in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. (7)(15)
Probiotics
1.6 × 109 CFU, total per day, minimum 8 weeks (8)(11)
- Prebiotics and probiotics modulate the intestinal microbiome and decrease oxidative stress and inflammation by increasing intestinal anaerobes and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. (6)
- Compared to placebo, a multistrain synbiotic reduced TNF-α by ~6% and hs-CRP by ~10% in postmenopausal females with obesity and a history of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. (11)
- Compared to placebo, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG reduced IL1-Beta and lipopolysaccharide concentrations by ~ 35% and ~30%, respectively, in patients with CAD. (8)
Quercetin
≥ 500 mg, total per day, minimum of 8 weeks (2)(9)(14)
- In individuals with chronic diseases, quercetin had a large effect on decreasing IL-6 and a smaller effect on decreasing serum CRP. (9)
- Quercetin decreased TNF-α and IL-6 in females with polycystic ovarian syndrome. (14)
- Compared to placebo, quercetin increased serum TAC by ~20% in post-myocardial infarction patients. (2)
Disclaimer
The Fullscript Integrative Medical Advisory team has developed or collected these protocols from practitioners and supplier partners to help health care practitioners make decisions when building treatment plans. By adding this protocol to your Fullscript template library, you understand and accept that the recommendations in the protocol are for initial guidance and may not be appropriate for every patient.