The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract Background Given the high prevalence of menstrual disorders such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea among students and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin, we decided to conduct a study to determine the effects of curcumin on PMS and dysmenorrhea among...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-025-00470-1 |
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| author | Fatemeh Shabani Sepideh Mashayekh-Amiri Fatemeh Teihoomaneshfard Mahsa Hesami Elnaz Shaseb Mojgan Mirghafourvand |
| author_facet | Fatemeh Shabani Sepideh Mashayekh-Amiri Fatemeh Teihoomaneshfard Mahsa Hesami Elnaz Shaseb Mojgan Mirghafourvand |
| author_sort | Fatemeh Shabani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Given the high prevalence of menstrual disorders such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea among students and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin, we decided to conduct a study to determine the effects of curcumin on PMS and dysmenorrhea among medical students in Tabriz-Iran. Methods This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 62 students from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran during the 2023–2024 academic year. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. They were given curcumin and placebo capsules with the same dose of 500 mg once daily for 10 days during each of the two menstrual cycles (7 days before to 3 days after the estimated onset of menstruation). Data collection involved a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and a checklist to evaluate potential side effects. Independent t test and ANCOVA were employed to compare the results between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference between the study groups regarding sociodemographic characteristics and baseline values before the intervention. Based on the ANCOVA test and by adjusting the baseline values, the curcumin group showed a significant reduction in average score of PSST in 2nd menstrual cycle (MD: -5.2; 95% CI: -9.6 to -0.9; P = 0.018) and average score of VAS in 2nd menstrual cycle (MD: -0.8; 95% CI: -1.4 to -0.1; P = 0.012) and 3rd menstrual cycle (MD: -0.8; 95% CI: -1.5 to -0.08; P = 0.029) compared to the placebo group. None of the study groups reported adverse effects. There were no dropouts and all participants completed the treatment period successfully. Conclusion This study highlights the increasing evidence that curcumin is an effective natural treatment for PMS and dysmenorrhea. Further research into dose optimization, combination therapies, and long-term effects will strengthen its position in clinical practice. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) IRCT20120718010324N71. Date of first registration 18/09/2022. Date of first sampling 20/09/2022. URL https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/65582 . |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-308d02eb5ea847f4aab770dd94e7145f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-0294 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-308d02eb5ea847f4aab770dd94e7145f2025-08-20T03:46:21ZengBMCJournal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences2055-02942025-07-0111111010.1186/s40780-025-00470-1The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trialFatemeh Shabani0Sepideh Mashayekh-Amiri1Fatemeh Teihoomaneshfard2Mahsa Hesami3Elnaz Shaseb4Mojgan Mirghafourvand5Midwifery Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of medical SciencesCounselling and Reproductive Health Research Centre, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical SciencesMidwifery Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of medical SciencesMidwifery Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of medical SciencesDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Given the high prevalence of menstrual disorders such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea among students and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin, we decided to conduct a study to determine the effects of curcumin on PMS and dysmenorrhea among medical students in Tabriz-Iran. Methods This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 62 students from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran during the 2023–2024 academic year. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. They were given curcumin and placebo capsules with the same dose of 500 mg once daily for 10 days during each of the two menstrual cycles (7 days before to 3 days after the estimated onset of menstruation). Data collection involved a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and a checklist to evaluate potential side effects. Independent t test and ANCOVA were employed to compare the results between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference between the study groups regarding sociodemographic characteristics and baseline values before the intervention. Based on the ANCOVA test and by adjusting the baseline values, the curcumin group showed a significant reduction in average score of PSST in 2nd menstrual cycle (MD: -5.2; 95% CI: -9.6 to -0.9; P = 0.018) and average score of VAS in 2nd menstrual cycle (MD: -0.8; 95% CI: -1.4 to -0.1; P = 0.012) and 3rd menstrual cycle (MD: -0.8; 95% CI: -1.5 to -0.08; P = 0.029) compared to the placebo group. None of the study groups reported adverse effects. There were no dropouts and all participants completed the treatment period successfully. Conclusion This study highlights the increasing evidence that curcumin is an effective natural treatment for PMS and dysmenorrhea. Further research into dose optimization, combination therapies, and long-term effects will strengthen its position in clinical practice. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) IRCT20120718010324N71. Date of first registration 18/09/2022. Date of first sampling 20/09/2022. URL https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/65582 .https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-025-00470-1CurcuminPremenstrual syndromeDysmenorrhea |
| spellingShingle | Fatemeh Shabani Sepideh Mashayekh-Amiri Fatemeh Teihoomaneshfard Mahsa Hesami Elnaz Shaseb Mojgan Mirghafourvand The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences Curcumin Premenstrual syndrome Dysmenorrhea |
| title | The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | The effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | effect of oral curcumin capsules on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Curcumin Premenstrual syndrome Dysmenorrhea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-025-00470-1 |
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