Curcumin supplementation and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS): effects, mechanisms, and practical considerations

In this literature review we aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which occurs after exercise, and evaluate related parameters to propose practical recommendations for the field of exercise physiology.

Experimental studies conducted on curcumin supplementation and DOMS were systematically reviewed to determine (1) the effect of curcumin supplementation on DOMS, (2) potential mechanisms by which curcumin supplementation may attenuate DOMS, and (3) practical considerations for curcumin supplementation.

While several studies have reported that curcumin supplementation attenuates DOMS after exercise, others have reported that curcumin supplementation has no effect on DOMS. Several mechanisms have been proposed by which curcumin supplementation may attenuate DOMS; the most probable of which is a reduction in inflammatory response. Other potential mechanisms include modulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) or changes in post-exercise capillary lactate levels; these require further examination. The usual recommended dose of curcumin is 150-1500 mg daily (sometimes up to 5 g), divided into 2-3 portions and taken before and after exercise. It is not necessary to take curcumin together with piperine.

Although conflicting results regarding the effects of curcumin supplementation on DOMS exist in literature, it may be considered as a method of nutritional intervention for reducing post-exercise DOMS.