{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,5]],"date-time":"2026-11-05T09:35:00Z","timestamp":1793871300148,"version":"4.6.1"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,15]],"date-time":"2020-02-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1581724800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Physical activity, particularly high-intensity eccentric muscle contractions, produces exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). The breakdown of muscle fibers and the consequent inflammatory responses derived from EIMD affect exercise performance. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol extracted from turmeric, has been shown to have mainly antioxidant and also anti-inflammatory properties. This effect of curcumin could improve EIMD and exercise performance. The main objective of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the effectiveness of curcumin supplementation on EIMD and inflammatory and oxidative markers in a physically active population. A structured search was carried out following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science (WOS), and Medline (PubMed) from inception to October 2019. The search included original articles with randomized controlled crossover or parallel design in which the intake of curcumin administered before and\/or after exercise was compared with an identical placebo situation. No filters were applied to the type of physical exercise performed, the sex or the age of the participants. Of the 301 articles identified in the search, 11 met the established criteria and were included in this systematic review. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the McMaster Critical Review Form. The use of curcumin reduces the subjective perception of the intensity of muscle pain; reduces muscle damage through the decrease of creatine kinase (CK); increases muscle performance; has an anti-inflammatory effect by modulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-\u03b1, IL-6, and IL-8; and may have a slight antioxidant effect. In summary, the administration of curcumin at a dose between 150\u20131500 mg\/day before and during exercise, and up until 72 h\u2019 post-exercise, improved performance by reducing EIMD and modulating the inflammation caused by physical activity. In addition, humans appear to be able to tolerate high doses of curcumin without significant side-effects.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12020501","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,19]],"date-time":"2020-02-19T04:06:01Z","timestamp":1582085161000},"page":"501","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":154,"title":["Modulation of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage, Inflammation, and Oxidative Markers by Curcumin Supplementation in a Physically Active Population: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6522-8896","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diego","family":"Fern\u00e1ndez-L\u00e1zaro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cellular Biology, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6554-4602","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan","family":"Mielgo-Ayuso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7818-9777","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jes\u00fas","family":"Seco Calvo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Physiotherapy Department, University of Leon, Campus of Vegazana, 24071 Leon, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alfredo","family":"C\u00f3rdova Mart\u00ednez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Caballero Garc\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy and Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2366-2528","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cesar","family":"Fernandez-Lazaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cellular Biology, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, Campus of Soria, 42003 Soria, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13373","article-title":"Effects of oral curcumin ingested before or after eccentric exercise on markers of muscle damage and inflammation","volume":"29","author":"Tanabe","year":"2018","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sport"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1949","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-015-3170-4","article-title":"Attenuation of indirect markers of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage by curcumin","volume":"115","author":"Tanabe","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.2147\/JIR.S114635","article-title":"Insights into the molecular etiology of exercise-induced inflammation: Opportunities for optimizing performance","volume":"9","author":"Fatouros","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Inflamm. Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1186\/s12970-014-0066-3","article-title":"The effect of turmeric (Curcumin) supplementation on cytokine and inflammatory marker responses following 2 hours of endurance cycling","volume":"12","author":"Sciberras","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1186\/1550-2783-11-31","article-title":"Reduction of delayed onset muscle soreness by a novel curcumin delivery system (Meriva\u00ae): A randomised, placebo-controlled trial","volume":"11","author":"Drobnic","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Int. Soc. Sports Nutr."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"R453","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2014.03.034","article-title":"ROS function in redox signaling and oxidative stress","volume":"24","author":"Schieber","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr. Biol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2016.00486","article-title":"Redox mechanism of reactive oxygen species in exercise","volume":"7","author":"He","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"C\u00f3rdova Mart\u00ednez, A. (2013). Sports Physiology, Synthesis. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"939","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-015-0323-x","article-title":"Impact of dietary antioxidants on sport performance: A review","volume":"45","author":"Braakhuis","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"J\u00e4ger, R., Purpura, M., and Kerksick, C.M. (2019). Eight Weeks of a High Dose of Curcumin Supplementation May Attenuate Performance Decrements Following Muscle-Damaging Exercise. Nutrients, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11071692"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2889","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2015.1077195","article-title":"Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health","volume":"57","author":"Kocaadam","year":"2017","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Administration USFaD (2016). Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) FDA."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.11124\/JBISRIR-2016-003266","article-title":"The effects of curcuminoids on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review","volume":"15","author":"Gaffey","year":"2017","journal-title":"JBI Database Syst. Rev. Implement Rep."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s40798-018-0176-6","article-title":"Nutritional and Supplementation Strategies to Prevent and Attenuate Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Brief Review","volume":"5","author":"Harty","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sports Med. Open"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hewlings, S., and Kalman, D. (2017). Curcumin: A review of its\u2019 effects on human health. Foods, 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods6100092"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nut.2008.09.002","article-title":"Curcumin and muscle wasting\u2014A new role for an old drug?","volume":"25","author":"Alamdari","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nutrition"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phrs.2016.07.004","article-title":"Effect of curcumin on circulating interleukin-6 concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"111","author":"Derosa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pharmacol. Res."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"2032","article-title":"A review of therapeutic effects of curcumin","volume":"19","author":"Noorafshan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Curr. Pharm. Des."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1631","DOI":"10.1007\/s00018-008-7452-4","article-title":"Curcumin: From ancient medicine to current clinical trials","volume":"65","author":"Hatcher","year":"2008","journal-title":"Cell Mol. Life Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"885","DOI":"10.1007\/s10787-019-00607-3","article-title":"Curcumin: A modulator of inflammatory signaling pathways in the immune system","volume":"27","author":"Kahkhaie","year":"2019","journal-title":"Inflammopharmacology"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phrs.2016.03.026","article-title":"Curcumin downregulates human tumor necrosis factor-\u03b1 levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis ofrandomized controlled trials","volume":"107","author":"Sahebkar","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pharmacol. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2199","DOI":"10.1097\/00003246-200111000-00024","article-title":"Curcumin, a medicinal herbal compound capable of inducing the heat shock response","volume":"29","author":"Dunsmore","year":"2001","journal-title":"Cri. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thitimuta, S., Pithayanukul, P., Nithitanakool, S., Bavovada, R., Leanpolchareanchai, J., and Saparpakorn, P. (2017). Camellia sinensis l. Extract and its potential beneficial effects in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-tyrosinase activities. Molecules, 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules22030401"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.18869\/acadpub.aassjournal.4.2.25","article-title":"The effect of curcumin supplementation on selected markers of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)","volume":"4","author":"Ghanivand","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. Appl. Sport Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.3177\/jnsv.65.82","article-title":"Effective Timing of Curcumin Ingestion to Attenuate Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Soreness in Men","volume":"65","author":"Tanabe","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Kopec, T.J. (2016). Performance Recovery Following Exercise Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) through an Exhaustive Bout of Exercise. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Alabama]."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medcli.2016.02.025","article-title":"La extensi\u00f3n de la declaraci\u00f3n PRISMA para revisiones sistem\u00e1ticas que incorporan metaan\u00e1lisis en red: PRISMA-NMA","volume":"147","author":"Hutton","year":"2016","journal-title":"Med. Clin."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1769","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-015-3152-6","article-title":"Curcumin supplementation likely attenuates delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)","volume":"115","author":"Nicol","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Law, M., Stewart, D., Pollock, N., Letts, L., Bosch, J., and Westmorland, M. (2008). Guidelines for Critical Review Form\u2014Quantitative Studies 1998, McMaster University."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbacli.2016.02.003","article-title":"Reduced inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers following oral supplementation with bioavailable curcumin","volume":"5","author":"McFarlin","year":"2016","journal-title":"BBA Clin."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"147","article-title":"Curcumin and piperine supplementation and recovery following exercise induced muscle damage: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"16","author":"Delecroix","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Sport Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"1","article-title":"Effect of Curcumin Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Muscle Damage, and Muscle Soreness","volume":"1","author":"Basham","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Diet Suppl."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Authority EFS (2014). Refined exposure assessment for curcumin (E 100). EFSA J., 12, 3876.","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2014.3876"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jff.2015.04.026","article-title":"Enhanced absorption and pharmacokinetics of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa L) derived curcuminoids in comparison with the standard curcumin from dried rhizomes","volume":"17","author":"Krishnakumar","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Funct. Foods"},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"E1089653","article-title":"Novel form of curcumin improves endothelial function in young, healthy individuals: A double-blind placebo controlled study","volume":"1","author":"Oliver","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Metab."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1002\/ptr.6226","article-title":"The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"33","author":"Tabrizi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Phytother. Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1089\/jmf.2016.3705","article-title":"Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials","volume":"19","author":"Daily","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Med. Food"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20872","DOI":"10.1038\/srep20872","article-title":"How does curcumin work with poor bioavailability? Clues from experimental and theoretical studies","volume":"6","author":"Shen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1080\/17425255.2018.1418854","article-title":"Piperine-mediated drug interactions and formulation strategy for piperine: Recent advances and future perspectives","volume":"14","author":"Lee","year":"2018","journal-title":"Expert Opin. Drug Metab. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7793.2001.00333.x","article-title":"Muscle damage from eccentric exercise: Mechanism, mechanical signs, adaptation and clinical applications","volume":"537","author":"Proske","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"337","article-title":"Regeneration of injured skeletal muscle after the injury","volume":"3","author":"Kalimo","year":"2013","journal-title":"Muscles Ligaments Tendons"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1363","DOI":"10.1080\/17512433.2016.1204231","article-title":"Transmission pathways and mediators as the basis for clinical pharmacology of pain","volume":"9","author":"Kirkpatrick","year":"2016","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Clin. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.1123\/ijsnem.16.6.620","article-title":"Effects of amino acid supplementation on muscle soreness and damage","volume":"16","author":"Nosaka","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"705","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2012-091647","article-title":"Individual perception of recovery is related to subsequent sprint performance","volume":"47","author":"Cook","year":"2013","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"723","article-title":"Patog\u00e9nesis de la artrosis","volume":"25","author":"Wainstein","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev. Med. Clin. Las. Condes."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"C\u00f3rdova, A., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., Fernandez-Lazaro, C.I., Caballero-Garc\u00eda, A., Roche, E., and Fern\u00e1ndez-L\u00e1zaro, D. (2019). Effect of Iron Supplementation on the Modulation of Iron Metabolism, Muscle Damage Biomarkers and Cortisol in Professional Cyclists. Nutrients, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11030500"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1254\/jphs.10126SC","article-title":"Curcumin inhibits the proteinase-activated receptor-2\u2013triggered prostaglandin E2 production by suppressing cyclooxygenase-2 upregulation and Akt-dependent activation of nuclear factor-\u03baB in human lung epithelial cells","volume":"114","author":"Moriyuki","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Pharmacol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1939","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-016-0546-5","article-title":"Is there evidence that runners can benefit from wearing compression clothing?","volume":"46","author":"Engel","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7199","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.165.12.7199","article-title":"Regulation of IL-6 and IL-8 expression in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts: The dominant role for NF-\u03baB but not C\/EBP\u03b2 or c-Jun","volume":"165","author":"Georganas","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"899","DOI":"10.1902\/jop.1998.69.8.899","article-title":"Increased presence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 secreting fibroblast subpopulations in adult periodontitis","volume":"69","author":"Ebersole","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Periodontol."},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"CD009789","article-title":"Antioxidants for preventing and reducing muscle soreness after exercise","volume":"12","author":"Ranchordas","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"5","article-title":"Enzimas que participan como barreras fisiol\u00f3gicas para eliminar los radicales libres: II. Catalasa","volume":"15","author":"Miranda","year":"1996","journal-title":"Rev. Cubana Invest. Biomed."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.1007\/s10787-017-0395-3","article-title":"Immunomodulatory potential of nanocurcumin-based formulation","volume":"25","author":"Trivedi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Inflammopharmacology"},{"key":"ref_54","first-page":"16","article-title":"Role of piperine as a bioavaility enhacer","volume":"4","author":"Patil","year":"2011","journal-title":"Inter. J. Recent Advan. Pharma. Resear."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1080\/17461391.2018.1505957","article-title":"Exercise-induced muscle damage: What is it, what causes it and what are the nutritional solutions?","volume":"19","author":"Owens","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. J. Sport Sci."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/12\/2\/501\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T08:58:07Z","timestamp":1760173087000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/12\/2\/501"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,15]]},"references-count":55,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2]]}},"alternative-id":["nu12020501"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu12020501","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,15]]}}}