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The effect of curcumin on human markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD): a systematic review and meta-analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials concluded curcumin (and related root-plant polyphenol supplements) can lower select muscle-damage and inflammatory biomarkers at 24 h post-exercise versus placebo, while benefits on oxidative-stress markers and recovery of muscular performance remained inconsistent across studies.
Design
- SR + MA of RCTs with placebo control
- Eligible supplements: curcumin, garlic, ginger, ginseng and related root / polyphenol products examined together for EIMD endpoints
Headline biomarker signal (abstract)
- Inflammatory markers significantly lower with supplementation than placebo at 24 h (p = 0.02), not at 48 h (p = 0.40).
- Muscular performance outcomes: no significant differences 24 h or 48 h (p > 0.05).
- Oxidative stress / antioxidant enzyme narratives described as mixed across trials.
Evidence hygiene
Multi-botanical search—read each included trial for whether the active arm is curcumin-only versus mixed phytochemical stacks before attributing effects solely to curcumin.
Publication
Doma K, Devantier-Thomas B, Gahreman D, Connor J. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2021 Mar;91(2):115-127. PMID 33196371.
Outcomes
- At 24 h post-exercise, pooled inflammatory markers were significantly lower with curcumin/root-botanical supplementation than placebo (p=0.02); no significant difference at 48 h (p=0.40) per abstract.
- No significant pooled differences in muscular performance measures vs placebo at 24 h or 48 h (p>0.05) per abstract.