Abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of curcumin on anti-oxidation and glucose metabolism in the muscle of IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation) rats. Twelve normal and twelve IUGR newborn rats were randomly assigned to the following four experimental groups:NBW group (normal rats, fed with basic diets), NC group (normal rats, fed with basic diets+400 mg/kg curcumin), IC group (IUGR rats, fed with basic diets) and IC group (IUGR rats, fed with basic diets+400 mg/kg curcumin). Rats were fed to 12 weeks of age, including a one-week adaptive phase for weaning. Results:Compared with NBW group, IUGR rats had a higher content of LC and GP (glycolytic potential) in the muscle (p<0.05) but had a lower content of T-GSH. Furthermore, the activities of GSH-PX and CAT (catalase) significantly decreased in muscle of the IUGR rats (p<0.05) as compared with those of NBW group. Curcumin significantly reduced the activities of LDH (p<0.05), whereas increased the activities of T-SOD、CAT and SDH in the muscle of IUGR rats (p<0.05), the content of GLY and GP also increased. Compared with NBW group, the mRNA expression of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2) and SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) in the muscle of IUGR rats were significantly down-regulated (p<0.05).However, curcumin up-regulated the mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and SOD1 (p<0.05), whereas down-regulated the mRNA expressions of AMPKα1 (Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α1) and GS (glycogen synthase). Conclusions:The anti-oxidant capacity and the glycogen storage capacity of IUGR rats decreased. Curcumin could increase the antioxidant capacity of muscle and inhibit the breakdown of glycogen in IUGR rats by regulating the expression of Nrf2, AMPKα1 and other related genes.