Efficacy of Curcuminoids in Managing Postoperative Pain after Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled, Open-Label Trial

<b><i>Background and Aims:</i></b> Curcuminoids, which are substances extracted from turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i>), have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and a good safety profile. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of curcuminoid extracts on reducing pain among patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy. <b><i>Experimental Procedure:</i></b> From November 2016 to December 2017, 98 participants were included in this clinical trial, and they were randomly assigned to the experimental and control arms according to blocks of four. The intraoperative findings did not significantly differ between the two groups. The experimental group received one tablet of curcuminoid extract 250 mg four times a day on postoperative days 1–3. Pain was evaluated at 24 and 72 h postoperatively using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). <b><i>Results and Conclusion:</i></b> The mean VAS scores at 24 h after surgery were 4.9 in the experimental group and 4.3 in the control group. Hence, the results did not significantly differ (<i>p</i> = 0.129). The mean VAS scores at 72 h after surgery were 1.8 in the experimental group and 2.8 in the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The side effects in both groups were similar. Hence, curcuminoids can be an effective supplement for reducing pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy. The conclusion from this study is that curcuminoids may be an effective supplement to reduce postoperative pain following laparoscopic hysterectomy.