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Randomised trial, 2024

Does curcumin-piperine combination improve antioxidant activity in women with PMS and period pain?

Curcumin significantly increased free-radical scavenging activity in the blood compared to placebo. However, other antioxidant measures showed no difference, so the practical benefit is unclear.

Strong study design 80 young girls with PMS and dysmenorrhea

What they did

Eighty young girls with PMS and dysmenorrhea were randomly given either curcuminoids (500 mg with 5 mg piperine) or placebo daily. The treatment ran from 7 days before menstrual bleeding until 3 days after it started, repeated for 3 successive menstrual cycles.

What they found

Curcumin treatment significantly increased free-radical scavenging activity of serum compared to placebo (p=0.031). However, no significant differences were found between groups in other antioxidant measures including serum and urinary FRAP, DPPH, and MDA.

What it means for you

Curcumin may boost the body's antioxidant system during PMS and period pain, though the clinical benefit is unclear since other antioxidant markers did not improve. The study involved only young girls and tested relatively low doses, so larger studies with higher doses are needed.

500 mg

curcuminoids plus 5 mg piperine daily

80

young girls

3

menstrual cycles of treatment

About the study

Original title
Curcuminoid-Piperine Combination Improves Radical Scavenging Activity in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhea: A Post-hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Study
Authors
Karbasi S, Seyedabadi S, Mozaffari S et al.
Journal
Chonnam medical journal
Year
2024
Study design
Randomised trial
What was tested
Curcuminoids 500 mg with 5 mg piperine daily for 7 days pre- and 3 days post-menstruation for 3 cycles vs placebo
Open access
Yes

Topics