Atsuhiro Kishimoto, Maki Komiyama, Hiromichi Wada, Noriko Satoh-Asahara, Hajime Yamakage, Yoichi Ajiro, Hiroki Aoyama, Yasuhiro Katsuura, Atsushi Imaizumi, Tadashi Hashimoto, Yoichi Sunagawa, Tatsuya Morimoto, Masashi Kanai, Hideaki Kakeya, Koji Hasegawa
Journal: Journal of health, population, and nutrition 2024;43(1):93
PMID: 38915116
Most COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or mildly ill, but some develop hypoxemia (i.e., moderate disease), severe illness requiring ventilation (i.e., severe disease), and even succumb to multiple organ failure. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cR [a highly absorbable curcumin] in preventing the progression of asymptomatic and mild COVID19 to moderate disease. This research was a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study. Patients within 5 days of COVID-19 diagnosis were randomly assigned to a placebo or cR group. Results showed that cR reduced event occurrence by 47%, but the small number of cases made the results not statistically significant. However, cR still showed a trend of lowering event rates and reducing the use of fever medication. It also significantly lowered body temperature in patients with normal temperatures compared to a placebo. Authors concluded that their findings support the anti-inflammatory effects of cR in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with COVID-19.
INTRODUCTION
Even after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of mild cases remains high, requiring continuous control. Curcumin, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress vital proliferation and cytokine secretion in animal models. We developed a highly absorbable curcumin, curcuRouge (cR), which is approximately 100 times more orally bioavailable than conventional curcumin. We evaluated the effect of cR on the inhibition of disease progression in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients.
METHODS
This study evaluated the effect of 7-day oral intake of cR (360 mg twice daily). Patients within 5 days of COVID-19 diagnosis were randomly assigned to a placebo or cR group in a double-blind manner.
RESULTS
Primary endpoint events [body temperature (BT) ≥ 37.5 °C and saturation of percutaneous oxygen (SpO2) < 96%] were fewer than expected, and the rate of these events was 2.8% in the cR group (2/71) and 6.0% in the placebo group (4/67); hazard ratio (HR) = 0.532, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.097-2.902. Patients receiving cR tended to take fewer antipyretic medications than those receiving placebo (HR = 0.716, 95% CI 0.374-1.372). Among patients with a normal range of BT at baseline, the BT change rate was significantly (p = 0.014) lower in the cR group (- 0.34%) versus placebo (- 0.01%).
CONCLUSION
The relative suppression of event rates and antipyretic medications taken, and significant decrease of subclinical BT support the anti-inflammatory effects of cR in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with COVID-19.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (CRB5200002).
© 2024. The Author(s).
© Copyright 2026, Nutrition Evidence
NED wishes to thank the following organisations for their support:
We use cookies to improve your experience and analyze site traffic with Google Analytics. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more.