PCOS: Curcumin reduces oxidative stress markers
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating use of curcumin supplements in overweight or obese women with PCOS and impaired glucose tolerance. Seventy-two patients were recruited and randomized to receive either curcumin at 500mg TID, or a matched placebo, for 3 months. A total of 67 women completed the trial, 34 in the curcumin group, and 33 in the placebo group.
Curcumin was found to significantly increase glutathione peroxidase levels, including after adjusting for BMI, age, and baseline glutathione peroxidase level (p=0.010). Curcumin also significantly increased gene expression of PGC-1α after adjustment for BMI, age, and baseline values (p=0.031). Effects on sirtuin1 expression and superoxide dismutase were not significant.
While the authors did not assess for the impact of curcumin on metabolic markers, ovulation, or BMI, a previous trial showed that curcumin at 500mg daily does improve serum insulin (Sohaei et al 2019) in women with PCOS. Perhaps beneficial alterations in oxidation account for a portion of this effect.
Citation:
Heshmati et al. The effects of curcumin supplementation on oxidative stress, Sirtuin-1 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α gene expression in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. 2020 Jan 8;14(2):77-82.
Link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871402120300035