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Effects of curcumin on serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
2025 BMC systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 RCTs (n=1,705) in knee osteoarthritis finds curcumin versus placebo significantly lowered pooled serum CRP (SMD −0.906) and TNF-α (SMD −0.921) while ESR, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE-2 did not differ significantly in the same models.
Design
- Corpus: 21 RCTs, n = 1,705 knee OA patients (search through 28 Mar 2025)
- Intervention: oral curcumin vs placebo (trial definitions vary by formulation)
- Endpoints: CRP, ESR, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE-2
Meta-analytic signals (abstract)
- CRP: SMD −0.906 (95% CI −1.543 to −0.269; p = 0.005) favouring curcumin
- TNF-α: SMD −0.921 (95% CI −1.817 to −0.026; p = 0.044) favouring curcumin
- Non-significant: ESR, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE-2 contrasts per abstract
Evidence hygiene
Biomarker shifts are not automatic proof of symptom superiority—read alongside WOMAC / VAS patient-reported meta-analyses for OA. Formulation / bioavailability heterogeneity is high.
Publication
Hsueh HC, Ho GR, Tzeng SI, et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025 Jul 4;25(1):237. doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-04951-6. PMID 40615851.
Outcomes
- Effect Size (Cohen's d / SMD)-0.906d (Cohen's d)
- Effect Size (Cohen's d / SMD)-0.921d (Cohen's d)