Curcumin-piperine supplementation (500–1,500 mg/day curcumin with 5–15 mg/day piperine) for 8–12 weeks reduces cardiac injury biomarkers (CK-MB, AST, ALT) in adults following coronary artery bypass grafting or acute myocardial infarction.

When the heart is damaged after a heart attack or surgery, harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species surge and trigger inflammation. Curcumin, boosted by piperine, enters heart cells and blocks the main inflammation switch (NF-κB), stopping the production of damaging proteins. At the same time, curcumin turns on a protective system (Nrf2) that makes natural antioxidants to clean up the harmful molecules. This reduces cell death in the heart, which prevents heart damage markers from leaking into the blood.