Considering the proven anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, we aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin supplementation on fatigue and musculoskeletal health (primary outcomes) and depression and its side effects (secondary outcomes) in postmenopausal women.

This was a parallel-group, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled superiority trial.

The trial was conducted at two general clinics in Tabriz, Iran, in 2023.

A total of 74 postmenopausal women were enrolled. The participants were women aged between 40 years and 60 years with normal menopause and at least 1 year after amenorrhoea.

They were randomly assigned (1:1 allocation ratio) using a block randomisation method to receive either 500 mg curcumin capsules (intervention group, n=37) or identical placebo capsules (control group, n=37) twice daily for 8 weeks. Both participants and researchers were blinded to the group assignments.

Data were collected using the questionnaires of demographic characteristics, short form of the perimenopausal fatigue scale, musculoskeletal health, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13) and the side effects checklist. Independent t, ANCOVA and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the results between the two groups.

A total of 74 women were randomised, with 33 in the curcumin group and 31 in the placebo group completing the study and being included in the final analysis. After the 8-week intervention, ANCOVA adjusting for baseline values revealed that the curcumin group showed a statistically significant improvement in musculoskeletal health (mean difference (MD): 5.3; 95% CI: 3.3 to 7.4; p

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. The study was not able to demonstrate a significant effect on depression.

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N72. Last updated version: 18 October 2022. Actual start of recruitment: 23 January 2023.