The Effect of Ginger and Curcumin Co-supplementation in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis [ID 894]

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of ginger and curcumin supplementation in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). METHODS: In a 4-month randomized clinical trial, patients (n=120) were recruited from Tabriz health centers 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 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/IMPLICATIONS: Ginger plus curcumin improved serum osteocalcin, ALP, hs-CRP, and SOD levels in women with PMO. Ginger and curcumin had beneficial effects on the ALP and SOD levels, respectively.