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

Haiyang Kou, Lei Huang, Meng Jin, Qi He, Rui Zhang, Jianbing Ma

Journal: Frontiers in immunology 2023;14():1121655

PMID: 37325651

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Modern medical research has found that the occurrence of many diseases in the human body is related to free radical formation and inflammatory response. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by symmetrical polyarthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of curcumin, a bioactive substance found in turmeric, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis that included six publications covering 539 patients. Results showed that curcumin supplementation was found to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis, reducing inflammation levels and clinical symptoms. In fact, significant improvements were observed in the experimental group compared to controls, with reductions in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, disease activity score, swollen joint count, and tender joint count. Authors concluded that inflammation levels and clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be improved by curcumin supplementation. However, large sample randomised controlled trials on the effects of curcumin on patients with rheumatoid arthritis are needed in the future.

Abstract

[{"label":"OBJECTIVE","text":"The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of curcumin in rheumatoid arthritis patients."},{"label":"METHODS","text":"A computerized search from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed until 3 March 2023. Literature screening, basic data extraction and risk of bias evaluation were independently performed by two researchers each. The quality evaluation of the literature was performed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Risk of Bias Assessment tool for treatment evaluation."},{"label":"RESULTS","text":"The current study includes six publications covering 539 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The activity of rheumatoid arthritis was assessed using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), protein, disease activity score (DAS), rheumatoid factor (RF), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC). ESR (MD = -29.47, 95% CI [-54.05, -4.88], Z=2.35, P = 0.02), DAS28 (MD = -1.20, 95% CI [-1.85, -0.55], Z=3.62, P = 0.0003), SJC (MD = -5.33, 95% CI [-9.90, -0.76], Z = 2.29, P = 0.02) and TJC (MD = -6.33, 95% CI [-10.86, -1.81], Z = 2.74, P = 0.006) showed significantly change in experimental patients compared with controls."},{"label":"CONCLUSION","text":"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."},{"label":"SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION","text":"https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/PROSPERO\/, identifier (CRD42022361992)."},{"copyright":"Copyright \u00a9 2023 Kou, Huang, Jin, He, Zhang and Ma."}]
Address: Department of Joint Surgery, Translational Medicine Center, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.; Department of Medical Technology, Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
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