Curcumin for Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zeng L, Yu G, Hao W, Yang K, Chen H
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders • July 2021
Plain Language Summary
This analysis of 15 studies found that curcumin (from turmeric) is effective for reducing knee arthritis pain, working about as well as common anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Importantly, curcumin caused fewer stomach side effects. Enhanced-absorption formulations (like BCM-95 or Meriva) worked best. This suggests curcumin could be a natural alternative for joint pain management.
Key Findings
- 1Curcumin significantly reduced pain scores compared to placebo (SMD = -1.22, 95% CI -1.94 to -0.50)
- 2Curcumin was non-inferior to NSAIDs for pain relief
- 3Physical function improved significantly
- 4Fewer gastrointestinal side effects than NSAIDs
- 5Bioavailability-enhanced formulations showed better results
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis compared to placebo and NSAIDs. The analysis included 15 randomized controlled trials with 1621 participants.
Study Limitations
- Varying curcumin formulations and doses
- Most studies short-term (8-12 weeks)
- Some studies had high risk of bias
- Long-term safety data limited