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Efficacy of Curcumin on Cognitive Function Scores in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhea: A Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the efficacy of a curcumin supplementation on cognitive abilities in women suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea.

Methods

A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from December 2019 to March 2020. A total of 124 women who had both PMS and dysmenorrhea were enrolled, and were equally and randomly assigned to the curcumin group or placebo group, 62 cases in each. Each subject received either a capsule containing 500 mg of curcuminoid, or a placebo daily, for 10 days (7 days before and until 3 days after the onset of menstrual bleeding) over 3 menstrual cycles. The cognitive abilities questionnaire was used to measures cognitive functions in 7 specific areas. Adverse reactions were monitored during and after the trial in both groups.

Results

Administration of curcumin was associated with a significant increase in memory score (P=0.002), inhibitory control and selective attention (P=0.020), and total cognitive ability task (P=0.024). In addition, significant increments were found in scores of memory (3.5±3.1 vs. 0.4±3.8 in the curcumin and placebo groups, respectively; P=0.035), inhibitory control and selective attention (3.0±3.7 vs. 0.4±3.7; P=0.027) and total cognitive abilities (8.3±12.3 vs. 2.2±12.4; P=0.025) in the curcumin group versus placebo groups. Curcumin was safe and well-tolerable in current clinical trial.

Conclusion

Curcumin has a beneficial efficacy on cognitive function scores in women with PMS and dysmenorrhea, with improvements in memory, inhibitory control and selective attention. (Registration No. IRCT20191112045424N1, available at: https://www.irct.ir)

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Data Availability

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgment

We are grateful to all study participants.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Research Development Unit of Akbar Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Afsane Bahrami

  2. Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    Amir Masoud Jafari-Nozad

  3. Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    Samira Karbasi & Malaksima Ayadilord

  4. Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9PH, UK

    Gordon A. Ferns

Authors
  1. Afsane Bahrami
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  2. Amir Masoud Jafari-Nozad
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  3. Samira Karbasi
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  4. Malaksima Ayadilord
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  5. Gordon A. Ferns
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Contributions

AB conducted all analyses and drafted the manuscript. AJ and SK coordinated the fieldwork of the study. MA and AB provided methodological feedback. AJ and GF supervised the overall research project and helped to draft the manuscript. All of the authors have read and confirmed the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Afsane Bahrami.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Supported by Grants from Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran (No. 5109)

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Bahrami, A., Jafari-Nozad, A.M., Karbasi, S. et al. Efficacy of Curcumin on Cognitive Function Scores in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhea: A Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 29, 387–393 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3732-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3732-3

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