Georgian medical news
Effects of curcumin on clinical outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized trial
By Jumaah A, Younis A and Othman S.
Abstract
Background
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of the joints in which pain, functional impairment, and low-grade inflammation appear. Curcumin, the active ingredient extracted from Curcuma longa, has biological effects of both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. However, its influence on inflammatory biomarkers in OA is less consistent.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of curcumin supplementation on clinical outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with knee OA.
Methods
In this prospective randomised single-blind placebo-controlled trial, patients with knee OA were assigned to curcumin supplementation or a placebo for three months. A total of 125 participants were randomized, and 80 completed the study. Clinical outcomes were measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). To assess the effects of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured before and after drug therapy.