Curcumin for fatigue and muscle health in postmenopausal women
What it found
In a small trial in postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of curcumin improved musculoskeletal health scores and reduced fatigue scores compared with placebo.
It did not significantly change depression scores.
What they found
Studies in people
Musculoskeletal health
After 8 weeks, the curcumin group had a significantly higher musculoskeletal health score than the placebo group, with a mean difference of 5.3 points. This was just short of the 5.5-point threshold considered clinically important.
Fatigue
The curcumin group had a significantly lower fatigue score than the placebo group, with a mean difference of -2.6 points. No clinically important difference threshold has been validated for this scale.
Depression
There was no significant difference in depression scores between the curcumin and placebo groups after 8 weeks.
Side effects
Some participants reported stomach ache and headache, leading to dropout. Two people in the curcumin group dropped out due to stomach pain, one due to headache and one due to allergy.
What the authors conclude
“In this trial, an 8-week supplementation with curcumin was more effective than placebo at improving musculoskeletal health and reducing fatigue score in postmenopausal women.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that an 8-week supplementation with curcumin was more effective than placebo at improving musculoskeletal health and reducing fatigue score in postmenopausal women.
- They state that the study was not able to demonstrate a significant effect on depression.
- They advise that more clinical trials are needed to fully recommend curcumin as an effective and accessible treatment option in complementary medicine.
How it was done
Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, and postmenopausal women often experience fatigue and muscle pain. The authors wanted to test curcumin for these symptoms because previous research focused on osteoarthritis and exercise-related soreness, not chronic menopausal complaints.
They randomly assigned 74 postmenopausal women aged 40 to 60 to take either 500 mg curcumin or a placebo twice daily for 8 weeks. Both groups and researchers were blinded. 33 women in the curcumin group and 31 in the placebo group completed the study.
What it can’t tell you
- The study was underpowered to detect a significant effect on depression, so it cannot show whether curcumin affects mood.
- The trial relied only on subjective self-report measures and did not use objective markers like inflammation or muscle strength.
- The sample size was too small to make definitive conclusions about curcumin's safety profile.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Competing interests: None declared.
- Authors work at
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (the Islamic Republic of); Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
The paper
- Title
- Effect of curcumin on fatigue and musculoskeletal health in postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomised controlled trial
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Shabani F, Mashayekh-Amiri S, Mousavi Z, Shaseb E, Mirghafourvand M (2025). Effect of curcumin on fatigue and musculoskeletal health in postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomised controlled trial. BMJ open. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096399Free full textPubMed 40976665DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error