Curcumin Improves Fasting Blood Sugar and Menstrual Symptoms in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

by | Mar 6, 2024 | Blood Sugar, Botanicals, Curcumin, Reproductive Health, Women's Health

Written by Taylor Woosley, Science Writer. 12-week supplementation of 1000 mg curcumin daily significantly improved mean serum FBS levels and menstrual symptom (amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea) frequency in women with PCOS. 

women's health skin healthPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological features, affecting 5-25% women of reproductive age globally1. PCOS symptoms include reproductive dysfunctions (infertility and pregnancy outcomes), unbalanced metabolic functions (insulin resistance), as well as psychological disorders (depression and anxiety)2. PCOS generally exhibits constantly secreted levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), increased levels of the luteinizing hormone (LH), and insufficient follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion contributing to elevated secretions of the androgens and ovulatory dysfunction3.

In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated that PCOS is associated with a chronic inflammatory state4. Curcumin is one of the main polyphenolic compounds in the turmeric rhizome that possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties5. Curcumin has been shown to reduce oxidative stress in patients with PCOS and significantly improves fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels in patients with metabolic syndrome6.

Ghanbarzadeh et al. conducted a randomized controlled trial with two-parallel arms to investigate the effects of curcumin on metabolic indices and androgen levels, menstruation characteristics and hirsutism in women with PCOS. Subject inclusion consisted of women aged 18 to 45 years with PCOS based on Rotterdam criteria (the presence of two of the three criteria: oligomenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovary) and a BMI of 18.5 to 40. All participants completed questionnaires regarding socio-demographic information, menstrual cycle characteristics, and food consumption frequency. Hirsutism scores were collected by a researcher using Ferriman-Gallwey criteria. Blood samples were obtained before the intervention and 3 months after the study during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and included fasting blood insulin (FBI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

Subjects were randomized to either the curcumin group or the placebo. The curcumin group received two 500 mg tablets of curcumin at the same time of day for 12 weeks. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was utilized to assess the normality of data. An independent t-test was used for an intergroup comparison of variables with a normal distribution before intervention and after the intervention. A total of 54 subjects were included in the final analysis (curcumin group, n=27; placebo group n=27). There were no significant differences between groups regarding sociodemographic factors, obstetric characteristics, and intake of nutrients. Significant findings of the study are as follows:

  • No significant difference was noted between the two groups regarding FBG levels. At the end of the 12-week intervention, the mean (SD) serum FBS level was 90.38 (10.69) in the curcumin group and 95.22 (11.22) in the placebo, which is significantly higher than the curcumin group (p=0.027).
  • Intra-group comparisons show a statistically significant difference between before and after intervention comparisons for fasting insulin level (p=0.005) and HOMA-IR (p=0.005) in the curcumin group.
  • At the end of the 12-week intervention, a statistically significant difference between the two groups was noted in terms of menstruation characteristics (amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea frequency) (p=0.038).

A 12-week intervention of 1000 mg of curcumin daily significantly improved serum fasting blood sugar levels and severity of menstruation characteristics. Further research including larger sample studies are necessary to better comprehend the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin on PCOS.

Source: Ghanbarzadeh-Ghashti, Niloofar, Solmaz Ghanbari-Homaie, Elnaz Shaseb, Shamsi Abbasalizadeh, and Mojgan Mirghafourvand. “The effect of Curcumin on metabolic parameters and androgen level in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.” BMC Endocrine Disorders 23, no. 1 (2023): 40.

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access

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Posted March 6, 2024.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

References:

  1. Wang Z, Groen H, Cantineau AEP, et al. Dietary Intake, Eating Behavior, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life in Infertile Women with PCOS and Obesity Compared with Non-PCOS Obese Controls. Nutrients. Oct 8 2021;13(10)doi:10.3390/nu13103526
  2. Gu Y, Zhou G, Zhou F, et al. Life Modifications and PCOS: Old Story But New Tales. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:808898. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.808898
  3. Xu Y, Qiao J. Association of Insulin Resistance and Elevated Androgen Levels with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): A Review of Literature. J Healthc Eng. 2022;2022:9240569. doi:10.1155/2022/9240569
  4. Shen W, Qu Y, Jiang H, et al. Therapeutic effect and safety of curcumin in women with PCOS: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:1051111. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1051111
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  6. Chien YJ, Chang CY, Wu MY, Chen CH, Horng YS, Wu HC. Effects of Curcumin on Glycemic Control and Lipid Profile in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis. Nutrients. Feb 21 2021;13(2)doi:10.3390/nu13020684