Curcumin is a yellow pigment found in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin has been shown to have a number of medicinal effects, and this likely relates to its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Loss of reproductive function can sometimes be attributed to oxidative stress and inflammation and it has been suggested that curcumin may be beneficial in this regard. For example, in one study researchers administered 80 mg of curcumin as a nanomicelle to a number of male subjects for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, significant improvements in sperm count, sperm concentration, and motility were seen in the treatment group compared to the control group. These changes were accompanied by increases in the levels of blood antioxidants, and reductions in markers of oxidative stress such as malonaldehyde, C-reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor alpha. Therefore curcumin may have beneficial fertility effects in men, which may derive from its ability to reduce the oxidative stress in tissues.
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