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Cited by 6Curcumin's Biomedical ApplicationsGastrointestinal motility and disordersGut microbiota and health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 43 of the 43 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 29 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Curcumin Supplementation Improves Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Women with Severe Obesity: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial—A Pilot Study

Open access
Kattah, Fabiana Martins, Figueiredo, Nayra, Bezerra, Kamilla Kenned, Oliveira, Emilly Santos, Melo, Cinara Costa de, Lima, Gislene Batista, Cavalcante, Jocélia Paula Rocha, Benetti, Beatriz Bacheschi do Carmo, Lima, Glaucia Carielo, Mota, João Felipe, Corgosinho, Flávia Campos·2025·Nutrients

Abstract

Gastrointestinal symptoms, including reflux, bloating, dyspepsia, stomach pain, and altered bowel patterns, are commonly reported in individuals with severe obesity and may significantly impact quality of life. Background/Objectives: Curcumin, a bioactive compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has been investigated for its potential role in gastrointestinal health. However, its effects in individuals with severe obesity remain unclear. Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin supplementation on gastrointestinal symptoms in women with severe obesity. Thirty-one women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2 undergoing bariatric surgery were randomized to receive either 1500 mg of curcumin (98.75%) or a placebo (1500 mg corn starch) daily for 13 weeks. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and stool consistency was assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale. Anthropometric measurements were also collected. Results: Participants had an average age of 33.1 ± 8 years and a BMI of 45.6 ± 3.31 kg/m2. No differences were observed between groups at baseline. At the end of the study, the curcumin group showed a significant reduction in the GSRS’s total score compared to the placebo group (p = 0.002), with improvements in eructation (p = 0.011) and constipation (p = 0.007). Additionally, the curcumin group showed reduced BMI (p = 0.019) and neck circumference (p = 0.042). Conclusions: These findings suggest that curcumin supplementation may alleviate some gastrointestinal symptoms and improve anthropometric measures in women with severe obesity, providing a potential dietary strategy.

Overview

CoChat Summary

TL;DR

In a 13-week double-blind pilot RCT, curcumin supplementation (1500 mg/day) improved total gastrointestinal symptoms and some anthropometric measures in women with severe obesity compared with placebo. The authors conclude curcumin may be a promising adjunctive strategy, but the small pilot sample limits interpretation.

Key findings

  • The curcumin group showed a significant reduction in total GSRS score versus placebo (p = 0.002); within-group total GSRS decreased by 7.36 points (p = 0.003; d = −1.17).
  • Specific improvements were reported for eructation (p = 0.011; d = −0.858) and constipation (p = 0.007; d = 0.562), while stool consistency on the Bristol Stool Scale did not significantly change in either group.
  • Curcumin supplementation was associated with reduced BMI (−4.0 kg/m²; p = 0.019; d = 0.017) and neck circumference (p = 0.042; d = 0.440); no significant changes were observed in the placebo group.
  • No significant between-group differences in dietary intake were detected at baseline or post-intervention, although the placebo group increased protein intake (p = 0.002) and reduced carbohydrate intake (p = 0.002) from baseline.

Methods

  • Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial in women with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²) undergoing bariatric surgery; participants received either 1500 mg/day curcumin or 1500 mg/day corn starch placebo for 13 weeks.
  • Thirty-one women were randomized; average age was 33.1 ± 8 years and BMI 45.6 ± 3.31 kg/m². Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed with the GSRS, stool consistency with the Bristol Stool Scale, and anthropometric measurements were collected.
  • Analyses used delta values, independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests, paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and ANCOVA adjusting for BMI, protein intake, and carbohydrate intake; significance was set at p < 0.05. Post hoc power was 1 − β = 0.64.

Limitations

  • The paper states that curcumin’s poor bioavailability may have limited effects, gut microbiota composition, intestinal biomarkers, and microbial metabolites were not measured, participants were engaged in multidisciplinary preoperative care, and the small sample size means conclusions should be interpreted cautiously as a pilot study.
  • The paper also states that participants were not recruited based on gastrointestinal symptoms because this was a sub-study of a broader trial focused on adipose tissue outcomes.
  • Evident from the text: the achieved post hoc power was 0.64, and the 13-week duration may be insufficient to detect changes in symptoms with more complex pathophysiological mechanisms; GSRS outcomes were self-reported.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/nu17132064

Cites

43 of 43 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Study design.
Figure 1 Study design.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 CONSORT flowchart diagram of clinical trial.
Figure 2 CONSORT flowchart diagram of clinical trial.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

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Metadata

Authors
Kattah, F. M., Figueiredo, N., Bezerra, K. K., Oliveira, E. S., Melo, C. C. D., Lima, G. B., Cavalcante, J. P. R., Benetti, B. B. D. C., Lima, G. C., Mota, J. F., & Corgosinho, F. C.
Affiliations
  • Universidade Federal de Goiás (BR)
  • Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-080, Brazil
  • Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-080, Brazil
Corresponding author
  • Mota, João Felipe
  • Corgosinho, Flávia Campos
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2025-06-20
Volume
17
Issue
13
Pages
2064
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4411485716
Cited by
6
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2
FWCI
1.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (434159/2018-2, n.01/2022)
  • Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa (FUNAPE/UFG) (434159/2018-2, n.01/2022)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás (434159/2018-2, n.01/2022)
  • Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (434159/2018-2, n.01/2022)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
curcumin, dietary supplementation, gastrointestinal symptoms, morbid obesity, women, bariatric surgery, reflux, bloating, dyspepsia, constipation, stool consistency, body mass index, neck circumference, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, anti-inflammatory agents
MeSH terms
Adult, Curcumin, Double-Blind Method, Female, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans, Middle Aged, Obesity, Morbid, Pilot Projects, Body Mass Index, Treatment Outcome, Dietary Supplements, Bariatric Surgery

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Data sources

Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.

Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).

Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.