title: Curcumin attenuates severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) at their reproductive age. PMS is a combination of psychological, physical and behavioral changes that interfere with familial communication and social activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Different methods have been suggested for treating PMS and one of them is herbal medicine. This study was done to evaluate the effects of curcumin on severity of PMS symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This research was a clinical trial, double-blinded study. After having identified persons suffering from PMS, participants were randomly allocated to placebo (n=35) and curcumin (n=35) groups. Then each participant received two capsules daily for seven days before menstruation and for three days after menstruation for three successive cycles and they recorded severity of the symptoms by daily record questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline level of PMS symptoms of before intervention did not differ between groups. While after three consecutive cycles treatment with curcumin, total severity of PMS score had reduced from 102.06±39.64 to 42.47±16.37 (mean change: 59.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 46.19-72.99) and in Placebo, total severity of PMS score changed from 106.06±44.12 to 91.60±43.56 (mean change: 14.45; 95% CI: 2.69 to 26.22). Furthermore, difference between mean changes was significant (mean difference: 45.14; 95% CI: 6.10-14.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results for the first time showed a potential advantageous effect of curcumin in attenuating severity of PMS symptoms, which were probably mediated by modulation of neurotransmitters and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khayat
authors.affiliation: Pregnancy Health Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Electronic address: fanaeih@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fanaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kheirkhah
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra Behboodi
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasaeian
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javadimehr
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Behavioral symptoms; Curcumin; Mood symptoms; Physical symptoms; Premenstrual syndrome