The clinical trial involved 70 college-age women, half of whom took curcumin as a treatment for PMS symptoms over three successive menstrual cycles.
The remaining 35 women were given a placebo for the same duration. Women in the curcumin group were given 100 mg every 12 hours (twice daily) for seven days prior to menstruation and three days after menstruation.
All the participants answered a questionnaire about their PMS symptoms and had blood drawn to check for a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Previous research has suggested that levels of this particular protein are lower in women who suffer from PMS.
Researchers from the study wanted to see whether curcumin is capable of increasing levels of BDNF. The study concluded, “In [the] curcumin group first, second and third cycles after interventions BDNF levels were significantly higher and mean scores of PMS symptoms were significantly less than [the] placebo group.
Based on our results part of these beneficial effects of curcumin may be mediated through enhancing serum BDNF levels in women with PMS.”
The research findings were significant, and this is good news for women who rely on pain pills (NSAIDs) and antidepressants every month to reduce the pain and discomfort during menstruation.
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