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December 2023
Journal of Herbal Medicine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2023.100746
Abstract
Introduction
We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of ginger and curcumin supplementation in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Methods
In this 4-month randomised clinical trial, patients (n = 120) were recruited from the Tabriz health centres between 2018 and 2019 and randomly assigned to one of four groups to receive: ginger plus placebo matching for curcumin (GP), curcumin plus placebo matching for ginger (CP), ginger plus curcumin (GC), and double placebo (PP) tablets. Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We measured the highly-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) using a particle-enhanced immunological turbidity test.
Results
One hundred and fifteen patients completed the protocol. Femur neck BMD significantly increased in GP, CP, and GC groups with no significant between-group differences. The osteocalcin (mean change [MC] = −4.22 [−7.98 to −1.54]) and ALP (MC = −36.89 [−63.55 to −10.23]) decreased in the GC group compared to the PP group. GP was better than PP in the ALP decrease. GC was better than PP in reducing the hs-CRP levels (MC = −0.41 [−0.64 to −0.25]) and increasing the TAC (MC = 1.19 [0.97–2.41]), and SOD levels (MC = 73.83 [25.58–133.24]). CP was better than PP in the SOD level increases. No patient reported significant adverse events.
Conclusions
Ginger plus curcumin improved serum osteocalcin, ALP, hs-CRP, and SOD levels in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Ginger and curcumin had beneficial effects on the ALP and SOD levels, respectively.
Trial registration: Iranian registry of clinical trials (registration number IRCT20161022030424N3-Registered 29/04/2018).
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