Curcumin Research

Comparative Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis

Zhang Y et al. • Nutrients (2025)

However, further large-scale, well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm these findings, particularly those that include more standardized dosages and formulations, as well as to evaluate their long-term efficacy.

• Bayesian rankings indicated Boswellia had the highest probability of being most effective for pain and stiffness, with krill oil and curcumin showing potential for function improvement.
• Conclusions: Nutritional supplements, particularly Boswellia, appear to be effective and well-tolerated for improving KOA symptoms and function.
• These results suggest that certain supplements may be useful as part of non-pharmacological KOA management.

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of nutraceuticals for depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Cheng YC et al. • Psychological medicine (2025)

This extensive systematic review and NMA of nutraceuticals for treating depressive disorders indicated a number of nutraceuticals that could offer benefits, either as adjuncts or monotherapies.

• Adjunctive nutraceuticals consistently showed better efficacy than antidepressants (ADT) alone in outcomes including SMD, remission, and response.
• This extensive systematic review and NMA of nutraceuticals for treating depressive disorders indicated a number of nutraceuticals that could offer benefits, either as adjuncts or monotherapies.
• Further research warranted to confirm findings

Curcumin on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 103 Randomized Controlled Trials

Jafari A et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2024)

Trial registration: PROSPERO: CRD42021251969.© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

• We meta-analyzed the effect sizes across eligible studies using the random-effects model.
• Overall, 23 out of 42 (55%) outcomes reported statistically significant effect sizes.
• In conclusion, curcumin supplementation can modify FBS and some glycemic indices, lipid parameters, as well as inflammatory and oxidative parameters.

Targeting cognitive aging with curcumin supplementation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yu L et al. • The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease (2025)

Preclinical in vivo evidence suggests curcumin enhances cognitive function in AD models.

• In preclinical in vivo murine studies (n = 25; total animals = 572), curcumin consistently improved both acquisition memory (SMD = -1.78, 95 % CI: -2.12 to -1.43) and retention memory (SMD = 2.36, 95 % CI: 1.72 to 3.00) in rodent models of AD.
• Overall, curcumin showed no significant effect on global cognitive outcomes compared to placebo (SMD = 0.14, 95 % CI: -0.78 to 1.07).
• Subgroup analyses revealed significant improvements in working memory (SMD = 1.01, 95 % CI: 0.15 to 1.87) and processing speed (SMD = 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.07 to 0.67).

Curcumin for anxiety

Fusar-Poli L et al. • Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2024)

Curcumin supplementation shows anxiolytic effects in clinical populations.

• Reduced anxiety symptoms
• Benefits in various populations
• Enhanced absorption forms most effective

Effects of dietary polyphenol curcumin supplementation on metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress indices in patients with metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Qiu L et al. • Frontiers in endocrinology (2023)

Curcumin exhibited promising potential in enhancing markers associated with metabolic syndrome, including inflammation.

• These improvements were statistically significant.
• Curcumin exhibited promising potential in enhancing markers associated with metabolic syndrome, including inflammation.
• However, additional studies are required to confirm such findings since the included evidence is limited and has a relatively high heterogeneity.

Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract in the Treatment of Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial

Zeng L et al. • Frontiers in immunology (2022)

Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract may improve symptoms and inflammation levels in people with arthritis.

• Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract may improve symptoms and inflammation levels in people with arthritis.
• However, due to the low quality and small quantity of RCTs, the conclusions need to be interpreted carefully.
• Further research warranted to confirm findings

Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yang K et al. • Frontiers in immunology (2022)

Based on current evidence, curcumin can reduce BMI, TG, TC, liver enzymes, and insulin resistance; catechin can reduce BMI, insulin resistance, and TG effectively; silymarin can reduce liver enzymes.

• Based on current evidence, curcumin can reduce BMI, TG, TC, liver enzymes, and insulin resistance; catechin can reduce BMI, insulin resistance, and TG effectively; silymarin can reduce liver enzymes.
• For resveratrol, naringenin, anthocyanin, hesperidin, and catechin, more RCTs are needed to further evaluate their efficacy and safety.
• Further research warranted to confirm findings

Curcumin and inflammation: A meta-analysis

Sahebkar A et al. • Pharmacological Research (2016)

Curcumin supplementation significantly reduces CRP levels, a key marker of systemic inflammation.

• Significant CRP reduction
• Dose-dependent effects
• Benefits for chronic inflammation

Optimal dose window, formulation efficacy, and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in MASLD animal models: A systematic review and three-level meta-analysis.

Zhang C, Fu G, Zhang Y, Xing J, Gao H, Zhang X • J Ethnopharmacol (2027)

A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Mathieu S et al. • Nutrients (2022)

Other studies are needed to better assess the effects of omega-3 and vitamin D.

• Pain was the only clinical parameter that significantly decreased.
• Vitamin D supplementation caused a significant decrease in pain and function.
• A significant decrease in inflammatory markers was found, especially with ginger.

Investigating the Potential of Curcumin in the Treatment of Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, Network Pharmacology, and Mendelian Randomization

Guo Y et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2025)

Phytotherapy Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

• Meta-analysis results showed that curcumin significantly reduced tumor volume of mice (p < 0.001) in the NSCLC group compared to the control group.
• In this study, the effectiveness of curcumin has been demonstrated in in vivo models of NSCLC by meta-analysis.
• AURKB has been identified as a high-risk target for NSCLC by network pharmacological analysis and MR for the first time.

The effect of turmeric/curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices in subjects with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Moradi Baniasadi M et al. • Nutrition & diabetes (2025)

This meta-analysis examined the effects of Curcumin.

• Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI), with a p-value ≤ 0.05 indicating statistical significance.
• The study found that turmeric/curcumin has a beneficial effect on some obesity indicators, which could contribute to weight management in individuals with prediabetes and T2DM.
• Systematic Review Registration: This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023440612.© 2025.

Therapeutic effect and safety of curcumin in women with PCOS: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Shen W et al. • Frontiers in endocrinology (2022)

In light of presented findings, curcumin has beneficial effects on serum markers of inflammation, weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with PCOS.

• In light of presented findings, curcumin has beneficial effects on serum markers of inflammation, weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with PCOS.
• The incidence of adverse reactions does not increase with the application of curcumin.
• However, a larger, more definitive study is needed to further investigate these results.

Curcumin Attenuates Hyperglycemia and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Quantitative Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial

Mokgalaboni K et al. • Nutrients (2024)

While the potential benefits were observed, it is recommended that future trials focus on finding a suitable dose and duration of intervention and incorporate formulation in curcumin to enhance its absorption.

• The data were reported as either mean difference (MD) or standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals.
• Supplementation with curcumin led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, MD = -11.48 mg/dL, 95%CI (-14.26, -8.70), p < 0.01 and glycated hemoglobin, MD = -0.54%, 95%CI (-0.73, -0.35), p < 0.01.
• Additionally, there was a significant decrease in C-Reactive Protein in curcumin compared to a placebo, SMD = -0.59, 95%CI (-1.11, -0.07), p = 0.03.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Dehzad MJ et al. • Cytokine (2023)

All rights reserved.

• It seems that turmeric/curcumin supplementation might be used as a viable intervention for improving inflammatory/oxidative status of individuals.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd.
• All rights reserved.
• Further research warranted to confirm findings

Effect of curcumin on rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kou H et al. • Frontiers in immunology (2023)

Curcumin is beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

• Curcumin is beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
• Inflammation levels and clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be improved by curcumin supplementation.
• Large sample randomized controlled trials on the effects of curcumin on patients with rheumatoid arthritis are needed in the future.

Safety and Efficacy of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Extract and Curcumin Supplements in Musculoskeletal Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Doyle L et al. • Alternative therapies in health and medicine (2023)

Turmeric extract and curcumin supplements can be effective adjuvants for the management of musculoskeletal health, with a low incidence of AEs.

• The χ2 value of the random effects model was 216.5545 for skeletal muscle health studies and 1400.65 for joint health studies, which was statistically significant with P < .0001 for both analyses.
• Turmeric extract and curcumin supplements can be effective adjuvants for the management of musculoskeletal health, with a low incidence of AEs.
• The water-dispersible turmeric extract, WDTE60N, at a dose of 250 mg per day, was found to be more effective than other curcumin products.

Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract in the Treatment of 10 Types of Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 31 Randomized Controlled Trials

Zeng L et al. • Frontiers in immunology (2022)

Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of Psoriasis, UC and RA, so Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract could be used in the treatment of the above diseases in the future.

• Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of Psoriasis, UC and RA, so Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract could be used in the treatment of the above diseases in the future.
• The results of Meta-analysis showed that Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract did not show efficacy in the treatment of oral lichen planus, while Takayasu arteritis, SLE, MS, AS, BD and CD did not report sufficient clinical data for meta-analysis.
• Therefore, large-sample, multi-center clinical trials are still needed for revision or validation.

Curcumin for depression: A meta-analysis

Ng QX et al. • Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (2017)

Curcumin appears to be safe, well-tolerated, and efficacious for depression.

• Significant antidepressant effects
• May enhance conventional antidepressants
• Well tolerated