The Effect of Curcumin Supplementation on Selected Markers of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

Abstract

Inflammation and pain induced by delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) can be induced by eccentric exercise or an unaccustomed activity. The condition can causes problems in exercising and for athletes. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of 150mg curcumin supplementation immediately after intensive eccentric exercise. Evaluations were made for total antioxidant Capacity (TAC), muscle damage markers, and DOMS induced pain. Ten healthy young males (age, 25.0 ± 1.6 years; height, 178.9 ± 4.1 cm; body mass, 81.1 ± 6.8 kg; fat%, 14.2 ± 2.1) completed a double blind randomized-controlled crossover trial to estimate the effects of oral curcumin supplementation (150mg) and a placebo on squat performance and DOMS following unaccustomed heavy eccentric exercise. Curcumin (CU) or placebo (P) was taken at the prescribed dose immediately after eccentric squat exercises; administrations were separated by a 14-day washout period. Measurements were made at the baseline, immediately, 24, 48, and 72h after exercise comprising: (a) limb pain (1-10 cm visual analogue scale; VAS), (b) total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (c) serum markers of muscle damage and inflammation. Measurements taken after exercise showed significantly reduced levels of pain, creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in C group compared with group P group (P<0.05). TAC remained significantly high in group C after exercise compared with levels in group P (P<0.05). The findings of this study suggest that a 150mg dose of curcumin may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on DOMS.

Modulation of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage, Inflammation, and Oxidative Markers by Curcumin Supplementation in a Physically Active Population: A Systematic Review

“…In addition, Delecroix et al [31] chose a combination of curcumin plus piperine in the composition. Regarding the daily dose of curcumin, seven studies used doses ranging from 150 to 1500 mg [1,2,4,5,10,24,25,30,32], and two studies tested higher doses of about 5 g [28] and 6 g [31] daily. In nine of the included studies, supplementation was given before and after exercise [1,2,5,10,25,28,[30][31][32], Sciberras et al [4] used curcumin before exercise, and Nakhostin-Roohi et al [24] supplemented with curcumin after exercise.…”

“…Regarding the daily dose of curcumin, seven studies used doses ranging from 150 to 1500 mg [1,2,4,5,10,24,25,30,32], and two studies tested higher doses of about 5 g [28] and 6 g [31] daily. In nine of the included studies, supplementation was given before and after exercise [1,2,5,10,25,28,[30][31][32], Sciberras et al [4] used curcumin before exercise, and Nakhostin-Roohi et al [24] supplemented with curcumin after exercise. Finally, treatment duration ranged from one to fifty-six days, with three studies of four days [1,5,31], two of six days [28,30], two of seven days [1,25], two of one day [2,24], one of twenty-eight days [10], and one of fifty-six days [32], respectively.…”

“…In nine of the included studies, supplementation was given before and after exercise [1,2,5,10,25,28,[30][31][32], Sciberras et al [4] used curcumin before exercise, and Nakhostin-Roohi et al [24] supplemented with curcumin after exercise. Finally, treatment duration ranged from one to fifty-six days, with three studies of four days [1,5,31], two of six days [28,30], two of seven days [1,25], two of one day [2,24], one of twenty-eight days [10], and one of fifty-six days [32], respectively. Curcumin capsule made for the study 1 study [28] Dosage Used 150 mg/day 1 study [24] 180 mg/day (2 doses of 90 mg/day) 2 studies [1,25] 300 mg /day (2 doses of 150 mg/day) 1 study [2] 400 mg/day 1 study [30] 400 mg /day (2 doses of 200 mg/day) 1 study [5] 500 mg / day 1 study [4] 5 g/day (2 doses of 2.5 g/day) 1 study [28] 6 g of curcumin + 60 mg of piperine/day (3 doses of 2 g of curcumin + 20 mg of piperine/day) 1 study [31] 600 mg/day (3 doses of 200 mg of curcumin) 1 study [10] 1500 mg/day (3 doses of 500 mg of curcumin) 1 study [32]…”

“…Before Exercise 1 study [4] Before and After Exercise 9 studies [1,2,5,10,25,28,[30][31][32] After Exercise 1 study [24] Duration of Treatment 1 day 2 studies [2,24] 4 days 3 studies [4,5,31] 6 days 2 studies [28,30] 7 days 2 studies [1,25] 56 days 1 study [10] 28 days 1 study [32] 3.3. Outcome Measures Table 3A-C includes information about the author/s and year of publication; the sample investigated, with details of fitness level, sex, and the number of participants; the study design cites the control group if the study included one; the supplementation protocol that specifies the type of curcumin used, the dose, and the time at which it was administered; the parameters analyzed or main effects on muscle damage; and finally, results or main conclusions.…”

“…These inconsistent results may be due, in part, to differences in doses, timing of supplementation, timing of exercise, exercise model, and experimental design between studies [23]. Previous research has indicated that curcumin may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects on DOMS [24]. Furthermore, similar effects of curcumin have been described by Tanabe et al [1], who found that ingestion before exercise could attenuate acute inflammation, and after exercise, it could attenuate muscle damage and facilitate faster recovery.…”