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. 2016 Aug 1;19(8):717–729. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705

Table 2.

Summaries of Intervention Results and Adverse Events

First author (year), reference Intervention dose & duration Main outcomes for meta-analysis Treatment results Control results Other results Author's conclusions Adverse events
Kuptniratsaikul (2009), 16 Curcumin 250 mg
4 × /day
6 weeks
PVAS CR 2.7 ± 2.5
P = .2
IB 3.8 ± 2.5
P = .2
Pain on stairs
TR 3.1 ± 1.5
IB 3.8 ± 2.4
CR safe and effective, similar to IB CR 1, IB 3
Chandran (2012), 24 Curcumin 500 mg or
DI 50 mg
2 × /day
8 weeks
PVAS CR 27.5 ± 9.4
P < .05
CR+DI
34.3 ± 26.7, P < .05
DI 39.2 ± 20.1
P < .05
CRP
CR 5.34 ± 4.12
P < .05
CR+DI 6.66 ± 6.87, P > .05
DI 3.35 ± 2.5
P > .05
Curcumin provide significant improvement for RA CR mild throat fever and infection
DI itching, eye swelling and dim vision
Pinsornsak (2012), 21 Curcumin 1000 mg+diclofenac 75 mg
3 months
PVAS CR+DI 3.19
P < .001 from baseline
DI+PL 3.55
P < .001 from baseline
Pain score
CR+DI 81.99
P < .001
DI+PL 84.49
P < .001
Curcumin had additive effects with DI Minor hair loss and renal distress
Madhu (2013), 22 Turmeric polysaccharide extract
500 mg
glucosamine 375 mg
2 × /day
42 days
PVAS
WOMAC for pain
PVAS
TR 19.5 ± 17.8
TR+GS 36.3 ± 29.0
WOMAC
TR 27.1 ± 16.1
TR+GS 36.2 ± 27.7
P < .05 for all
PVAS
PL 46.0 ± 20.8
GS 29.3 ± 20.6
WOMAC
PL 47.9 ± 12.6
GS 34.9 ± 19.5
CGIC
TR 2.21 ± 1.80
PL 4.72 ± 1.27
TR+GS 3.37 ± 2.41, P < .05
GS 3.32 ± 1.78
P < .05
Curcumin significantly effective for pain and reduced need for medication N.R.
Belcaro (2014), 19 Curcumin phospholipid +glucosamine 500 mg each
1 × /day
4 months
WOMAC
for pain
CR+GS
6.8 ± 2.0,
(compared with baseline)
P < .05
CN+GS
10.2 ± 2.2,
(compared with baseline) P < .05
WOMAC total index
CR+GS
36.3 ± 5.0
CN+GS
64.2 ± 7.3
Karnosfki index
CR+GS
93.4 ± 6.4
CN+GS
79.6 ± 6.6
P < .05
CR+GS more effective than CN+GS N.R.
Panahi (2014), 17 Curcumin 500 mg+Bioperine 5 mg
3 × /day
6 weeks
WOMAC
for pain
PVAS
WOMAC
CR 37 ± 19
P < .001
PVAS
CR 6.1 ± 2.9
P < .001
WOMAC
PL 57 ± 12
PVAS
PL 9.4 ± 3.4
LPFI
CR 7.8 ± 3.6
PL 12 ± 4
P = .013
WOMAC total index
CR 25 ± 13
PL 40.6 ± 12.6
P = .001
Results support efficacy of CR for OA CR 3, PL 4 with intestinal symptoms
Nakagawa (2014), 20 Curcumin
180 mg/day
8 weeks
PVAS decline in score CR −0.40 as compared with baseline, compared with PL, P = .023 PL −0.22 as compared to baseline No. of subjects using pain killer
CR 32%
PL 60%
P = .0252
CR more effective than PL No serious adverse events
Kuptniratsaikul (2014), 18 Curcuma extract
1125–1275 mg CR/day
4 weeks
WOMAC for pain CR 3.17 ± 1.98
P < .01
(compared with baseline)
IB 3.25 ± 2.11
P < .01 (compared with baseline)
WOMAC total score
IB 3.23 ± 1.97
CR 3.36 ± 2.04
CR equally effective as IB but fewer side effects Both groups mild intestinal symptoms

CGIC, clinician global impression of change; Karnosfki index, Karnosfki Performance Scale index; LPFI, Lequesne's pain functional index; N.R., not reported; PVAS, pain visual analogue score.