Drobnic 2014.
| Methods | Randomised controlled trial (parallel design) | |
| Participants | Setting: laboratory, Spain n = 20 male, healthy, moderately exercising (regular aerobic exercise for at least 4 hours per week), non‐smoking with no injury Mean age 38.1 (SD 11.1) years in placebo group (n = 10) Mean age 32.7 (SD 12.3) years in curcumin group (n = 9) |
|
| Interventions |
Intervention Curcumin given as the Phytosome delivery system (Meriva) 1 g twice daily corresponding to 200 mg curcumin twice daily Placebo Matched capsules Duration 5 days ‐ supplements taken 2 days prior to running |
|
| Outcomes |
PRIMARY Delayed onset muscle soreness lower limbs when descending and climbing stairs (4‐point visual analogue scale: 0 is "no pain" and 4 is "disabling pain"). Scores were a sum of 8 sites (anterior right thigh, posterior right thigh, anterior right leg, posterior right leg, anterior left thigh, posterior left thigh, anterior left leg, posterior left leg) |
|
| Exercise type | Downhill running test on a treadmill at grade ‐10% at a constant speed (anaerobic threshold) for 45 minutes | |
| Sources of funding | Authors Stefano Togni and Fedrico are employees of Indena SpA the manufacturer of Meriva, Giovanni Appendino is a consultant to Indena SpA Statistical analysis assistance was funded by Indena |
|
| Notes | Authors were contacted to request raw data for delayed onset muscle soreness on 18 February 2016 and responded on 18 February 2016 | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Randomised used computer software |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | No details of safeguards. Although placebo‐controlled, the sports medicine physicians performing the exercise test beforehand were not blinded |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | "Study subjects and physicians performing the radiologic and laboratory assessments were blinded to treatment, whereas the sports medicine physicians involved in exercise testing were not." It is not explained why the lattermost were not blinded |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | "Study subjects and physicians performing the radiologic and laboratory assessments were blinded to treatment, whereas the sports medicine physicians involved in exercise testing were not." It is likely that the participants reporting DOMS were blinded but some uncertainty remains |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | 1 dropout by personal decision; 5% dropout rate |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | High risk | No published protocol available All outcomes reported at all time points Adverse effects of antioxidant supplementation were not reported |
| Other bias | Low risk | Participants were asked to refrain from using anti‐inflammatory medication and other supplements for the duration of the study Participants were familiarised with the protocol and diet was standardised |