Curcumin Versus Ibuprofen for Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Physically Active Women

Exercise‐induced muscle damage (EIMD) following eccentric exercise is characterized bystructural disruption of skeletal muscle fibers accompanied by transient inflammation,oxidative stress, delayed‐onset muscle soreness, and impaired physical performance.Although these responses are considered part of the normal adaptive process, excessivemuscle damage may delay recovery and impair subsequent training or competition.Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used by athletes to reducepost‐exercise pain and inflammation. However, repeated NSAID use has been associated withgastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular adverse effects, highlighting the need forsafe nutritional alternatives capable of supporting recovery without interfering withphysiological adaptation.Curcumin, the principal bioactive polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, exhibitsantioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties through modulation ofmultiple molecular pathways involved in redox homeostasis and inflammatory signaling.Experimental and clinical studies suggest that curcumin may attenuate exercise‐inducedmuscle damage by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and muscle soreness,although evidence remains inconsistent and direct comparisons with NSAIDs are scarce.The objective of this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial is to comparethe efficacy of oral curcumin supplementation with ibuprofen and placebo in physicallyactive women following eccentric exercise. The study evaluates clinical recovery,physical performance, biomarkers of muscle damage, inflammatory and oxidative stressbiomarkers, and additional health‐related biomarkers in order to characterize thephysiological effects of curcumin supplementation and determine its potential role as anutritional strategy for exercise recovery.