Compound
curcumin
A β-diketone that is methane in which two of the hydrogens are substituted by feruloyl groups. A natural dyestuff found in the root of Curcuma longa.
CHEBI:3962ChEBI
Studied for
26 endpoints, 39 findings, from 13 papers — 14 of them found no effect.
- Aspartate aminotransferaselowersGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
- Body mass indexlowersGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
- Total antioxidant capacityraisesGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
- Alanine aminotransferaselowersGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
- Diastolic blood pressure (setting unspecified)no detected effectGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
Structure
Loading the model…
- Class
- Organic compound
- Formula
- C21H20O6
- Mass
- 368.385 g/mol
- Charge
- 0
- InChIKey
- VFLDPWHFBUODDF-FCXRPNKRSA-N
- SMILES
- COc1cc(/C=C/C(=O)CC(=O)/C=C/c2ccc(O)c(OC)c2)ccc1O
- Look it up
- ChEBIPubChemBy InChIKey
Identity from ChEBI, geometry from PubChem. Not evidence — none of it carries a grade.
What the evidence says
How to read these marks39 findings across 26 endpoints, from 13 papers, strongest first, 14 of them null.
What moved
25 findings
Increases total antioxidant capacity
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“In contrast, nanocurcumin significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (SMD: 1.60; 95% CI: 0.93 to 2.31) and reduced malondialdehyde levels (SMD: -1.93; 95% CI: -3.19 to -0.66), indicating a robust antioxidative effect.”
Quoted verbatim from Evaluating the Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 153
- Population
- adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
Decreases body mass index
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“Thirteen studies assessed reduction of BMI indicating curcumin supplementation was effective in lowering BMI with MD (95% CI) of −0.34 (−0.62, −0.05) kg/m2; I2 = 62.7%, see Supplementary Appendix Q.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); 13 RCTs; BMI was an additional (secondary) outcome of this review
Effect -0.34 mean difference, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.05
Decreases interleukin-6 concentration
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1“The combined effect size for curcumin supplementation in reducing IL-6 levels was MD = -0.33, indicating a substantial improvement.”
Quoted verbatim from Meta-analysis of the effect of curcumin supplementation on skeletal muscle damage status.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- trained and untrained adults undergoing muscle-damaging exercise
Effect -0.33 mean difference
Meta-analysis of the effect of curcumin supplementation on skeletal muscle damage status.2024PMID:39008500
Decreases erythrocyte sedimentation rate
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“We found a conflicting effect of curcumin supplementation on systemic inflammation markers, with a significantly large decrease in the ESR but not in the CRP level ( Table 2).”
Quoted verbatim from A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Osteoarthritis Symptoms.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- patients with knee osteoarthritis; inflammation-marker outcome pooled across the curcumin trials (placebo and active comparators), all studies and timepoints
A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Osteoarthritis Symptoms.2022PMID:35458170
Decreases disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS-28)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“The pooled analysis demonstrated that curcumin supplementation significantly reduced DAS28 compared with controls (WMD = –1.47, 95% CI [–1.68,–1.26]) (Fig. A).”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of curcumin on inflammatory markers and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults with rheumatoid arthritis
Effect -1.47 mean difference, 95% CI -1.68 to -1.26
Effect of curcumin on inflammatory markers and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.2025PMID:41327719
Decreases malondialdehyde (circulating)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1“Conversely, MDA levels, a marker of lipid peroxidation, were significantly lower in the curcumin group compared with placebo (1.29 [1.05–1.58] vs. 2.45 [2.14–2.77], p < 0.001), corresponding to a large effect size ( r = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.77–0.91).”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Curcumin 1500 mg/day orally for 12 months
- Population
- Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity (n=114 randomised); secondary endpoint; between-group comparison at 12 months
Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2026PMID:42123439Industry funded
Show the remaining 19
Increases superoxide dismutase activity
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“Compared to the placebo group, curcumin supplementation significantly enhanced antioxidant defenses, as evidenced by increased levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Oral ethanolic Curcuma longa rhizome extract standardised to 75-85% total curcuminoids, 250 mg curcuminoids per capsule, three capsules twice daily (1500 mg curcuminoids/day) for 12 months
- Population
- Obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus managed on metformin (age >=35 y, BMI >=23 kg/m2, HbA1c <6.5%), Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; 227 randomised, per-protocol analysis and the analysed count is not reported in the paper; secondary endpoint (declared primary outcome: liver steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter on transient elastography); SOD by RANSOD colorimetric assay
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025PMID:41096556Industry funded
Increases adverse event occurrence (oral or enteral supplement)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“Meta-analysis of adverse reactions associated with curcumin indicated a statistically significant increase in adverse events compared to placebo (SMD = 2.40, 95 % CI: 1.37 to 4.21, I2 = 44.1 %) (Supplementary 4 - SFigure 3).”
Quoted verbatim from Targeting cognitive aging with curcumin supplementation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults in randomised trials of oral curcumin supplementation for cognitive ageing; secondary endpoint
Effect 2.4 standardised mean difference, 95% CI 1.37 to 4.21
Targeting cognitive aging with curcumin supplementation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2025PMID:40579315
Decreases delayed-onset muscle soreness
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“The combined effect size for curcumin supplementation in mitigating muscle soreness registers at mean difference (MD) = -0.61, signifying a substantial reduction in pain, particularly in cases of lower back pain.”
Quoted verbatim from Meta-analysis of the effect of curcumin supplementation on skeletal muscle damage status.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- trained and untrained adults undergoing muscle-damaging exercise
Effect -0.61 mean difference
Meta-analysis of the effect of curcumin supplementation on skeletal muscle damage status.2024PMID:39008500
Decreases HOMA-IR
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“The results showed that curcumin reduced HOMA-IR compared with placebo [WMD = -0.28, 95% CI (-0.36, -0.20), P < 0.00001].”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 343
- Population
- adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Effect -0.28 mean difference, 95% CI -0.36 to -0.2
Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022PMID:36159792
Decreases aspartate aminotransferase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“The results showed that curcumin reduced AST compared with placebo [SMD = -0.48, 95% CI (-0.76, -0.20), P = 0.0007].”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 681
- Population
- adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Effect -0.48 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.2
Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022PMID:36159792
Decreases visual analogue scale pain intensity
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“The PVAS was much lower in the curcumin group than in the placebo groups (overall mean differences and CI: −2.04 and −2.85, −1.24; P <.00001).”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis; curcumin vs placebo, pain visual analogue score
Effect -2.04 mean difference, 95% CI -2.85 to -1.24
Decreases interleukin-6 concentration
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1“Median IL-6 levels were markedly lower in the curcumin group than in the placebo group (5.50 [4.39–9.00] vs. 13.69 [11.27–15.65], p < 0.001), with a large effect size ( r = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68–0.86).”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Curcumin 1500 mg/day orally for 12 months
- Population
- Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity (n=114 randomised); secondary endpoint; between-group comparison at 12 months
Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2026PMID:42123439Industry funded
Increases total antioxidant capacity
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“TAS levels were significantly higher in the curcumin group than in the placebo group (1.85 [1.74–1.95] vs. 1.65 [1.55–1.79], p < 0.001), with a large effect size ( r = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61–0.81).”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Curcumin 1500 mg/day orally for 12 months
- Population
- Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity (n=114 randomised); secondary endpoint; between-group comparison at 12 months; total antioxidant status reported in micromol trolox equivalent/L
Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2026PMID:42123439Industry funded
Increases total antioxidant capacity
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“Compared to the placebo group, curcumin supplementation significantly enhanced antioxidant defenses, as evidenced by increased levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Oral ethanolic Curcuma longa rhizome extract standardised to 75-85% total curcuminoids, 250 mg curcuminoids per capsule, three capsules twice daily (1500 mg curcuminoids/day) for 12 months
- Population
- Obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus managed on metformin (age >=35 y, BMI >=23 kg/m2, HbA1c <6.5%), Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; 227 randomised, per-protocol analysis and the analysed count is not reported in the paper; secondary endpoint (declared primary outcome: liver steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter on transient elastography); total antioxidant capacity by the automated Erel assay
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025PMID:41096556Industry funded
Decreases alanine aminotransferase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1“The overall pooling indicated that curcumin supplementation was significantly associated with reduced ALT [MD (95% CI) of −5.61 (−9.37, −1.85) units/L] with moderate heterogeneity observed (I2 = 64.3%).”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); overall pooling of 14 RCTs, all curcumin forms; liver enzymes were a primary outcome of interest
Effect -5.61 mean difference, 95% CI -9.37 to -1.85
Increases glutathione peroxidase activity
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“Compared to the placebo group, curcumin supplementation significantly enhanced antioxidant defenses, as evidenced by increased levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Oral ethanolic Curcuma longa rhizome extract standardised to 75-85% total curcuminoids, 250 mg curcuminoids per capsule, three capsules twice daily (1500 mg curcuminoids/day) for 12 months
- Population
- Obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus managed on metformin (age >=35 y, BMI >=23 kg/m2, HbA1c <6.5%), Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; 227 randomised, per-protocol analysis and the analysed count is not reported in the paper; secondary endpoint (declared primary outcome: liver steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter on transient elastography); GPx by RANSEL colorimetric assay
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025PMID:41096556Industry funded
Decreases total cholesterol (TC)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“Curcumin supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels when compared to the placebo group at the 6, 9, and 12-month time points.”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Oral ethanolic Curcuma longa rhizome extract standardised to 75-85% total curcuminoids, 250 mg curcuminoids per capsule, three capsules twice daily (1500 mg curcuminoids/day) for 12 months
- Population
- Obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus managed on metformin (age >=35 y, BMI >=23 kg/m2, HbA1c <6.5%), Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; 227 randomised, per-protocol analysis and the analysed count is not reported in the paper; secondary endpoint (declared primary outcome: liver steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter on transient elastography)
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025PMID:41096556Industry funded
Decreases aspartate aminotransferase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“Similarly, the mean AST reduction was − 15.03 ± 16.31 U/L in the nanocurcumin group and − 0.92 ± 11.64 U/L in the placebo group, with a significant between-group difference ( P = 0.004).”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of nano-curcumin supplementation on liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD-associated fibrosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Dose
- Oral nanomicellar curcumin (nano-curcumin, Exir Nano Sina), one 40 mg capsule twice daily with a main meal (80 mg/day) for 16 weeks
- Population
- Adults aged 30-70 y with NAFLD-associated liver fibrosis of METAVIR stage F2 or higher, Tehran, Iran; 55 randomised and all 55 analysed with no withdrawals (27 nano-curcumin, 28 placebo); secondary endpoint (declared primary outcomes: liver fibrosis and steatosis by FibroScan and the FIB-4 index); unadjusted between-group comparison of change from baseline; baseline AST was higher in the nano-curcumin arm than in the placebo arm (38.44 vs 27.21 U/L, P = 0.05); serum AST by enzyme colorimetric method on a Cobas c 311 analyser
Effect of nano-curcumin supplementation on liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD-associated fibrosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.2025PMID:41168313Industry funded
Decreases aspartate aminotransferase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“The overall pooling of data indicated that curcumin supplementation was significantly associated with reduced AST with MD (95% CI) of −3.90 (−5.97, −1.82) units/L, although high heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 73.9%).”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); overall pooling of 15 RCTs, all curcumin forms; liver enzymes were a primary outcome of interest
Effect -3.9 mean difference, 95% CI -5.97 to -1.82
Decreases fasting blood glucose
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“Twelve studies assessed reduction of FBS indicating curcumin supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in FBS, with MD (95% CI) of −2.05 (−3.08, −1.01) mg/dL, I2 = 0%, see Supplementary Appendix O.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); 12 RCTs; glycaemic indices were an additional (secondary) outcome of this review, not a liver endpoint
Effect -2.05 mean difference, 95% CI -3.08 to -1.01
Decreases alanine aminotransferase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1“The results showed that curcumin reduced ALT compared with placebo [SMD = -0.55, 95% CI (-1.01, -0.09), P = 0.02].”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 639
- Population
- adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Effect -0.55 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.09
Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022PMID:36159792
Decreases body mass index
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“The results showed that curcumin reduced BMI compared with placebo [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.49, 95% CI (-0.81, -0.18), P = 0.002].”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 462
- Population
- adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Effect -0.49 mean difference, 95% CI -0.81 to -0.18
Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2022PMID:36159792
Decreases body mass index
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×2“Anthropometric measurements, including BMI and WC, were significantly lower in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months ( Table 4; B).”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- Oral ethanolic Curcuma longa rhizome extract standardised to 75-85% total curcuminoids, 250 mg curcuminoids per capsule, three capsules twice daily (1500 mg curcuminoids/day) for 12 months
- Population
- Obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus managed on metformin (age >=35 y, BMI >=23 kg/m2, HbA1c <6.5%), Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; 227 randomised, per-protocol analysis and the analysed count is not reported in the paper; this outcome is named in neither the declared primary nor the declared secondary endpoint list (declared primary outcome: liver steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter); BMI by bioelectrical impedance analyser (Omron HBF-362)
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025PMID:41096556Industry funded
Decreases malondialdehyde (circulating)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Findingreplicated ×1“In contrast, nanocurcumin significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (SMD: 1.60; 95% CI: 0.93 to 2.31) and reduced malondialdehyde levels (SMD: -1.93; 95% CI: -3.19 to -0.66), indicating a robust antioxidative effect.”
Quoted verbatim from Evaluating the Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 153
- Population
- adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
What did not
14 findings
Measured, and no effect detected. These are findings, not gaps — a trial that looked and found nothing is the most easily lost result in this field.
No detected effect on C-reactive protein concentration
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“No statistically significant reduction in C-reactive protein was observed (SMD: -0.78; 95% CI: -1.58 to 0.05).”
Quoted verbatim from Evaluating the Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 303
- Population
- adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
No detected effect on diastolic blood pressure (setting unspecified)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull resultreplicated ×1“Five studies assessed changes in blood pressure indicating no significant effect of curcumin supplementation on both SBP and DBP with pooled MD (95% CI) of −0.29 (−0.91, 0.34) and −0.02 (−0.55, 0.52) mmHg, respectively, see Supplementary Appendix V–W.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); 5 RCTs; blood pressure was an additional (secondary) outcome and the acquisition protocol is not recoverable from the pooled estimate
Effect -0.02 mean difference, 95% CI -0.55 to 0.52
No detected effect on LDL cholesterol
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“However, the pooled effects of curcumin supplementation on LDL, HDL, and TG were not statistically significant regardless of its forms, see Supplementary Appendix S–U.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD/NASH); additional (non-liver-enzyme) outcome of the updated meta-analysis, pooled across 11 trials
No detected effect on HDL cholesterol
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“However, the pooled effects of curcumin supplementation on LDL, HDL, and TG were not statistically significant regardless of its forms, see Supplementary Appendix S–U.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD/NASH); additional (non-liver-enzyme) outcome of the updated meta-analysis, pooled across 10 trials
No detected effect on serum alkaline phosphatase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull resultreplicated ×1“There was no significant association between curcumin supplement and ALP [MD (95% CI) of −8.88 (−24.68, 6.93) units/L].”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); 6 RCTs, all using bioavailability-enhanced curcumin forms; liver enzymes were a primary outcome of interest
Effect -8.88 mean difference, 95% CI -24.68 to 6.93
No detected effect on diastolic blood pressure (setting unspecified)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull resultreplicated ×1“Meta‐analysis of 16 effect sizes demonstrated no significant alteration in DBP following supplementation of curcumin/turmeric compared to control groups (WMD: −1.20 mmHg; 95% CI: −2.84 to 0.44; p = 0.15) (Figure.”
Quoted verbatim from Antihypertensive Effects of Curcumin/Turmeric Supplementation in Prediabetes and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes; primary endpoint
Effect -1.2 mean difference, 95% CI -2.84 to 0.44
Show the remaining 8
No detected effect on withdrawal due to adverse events
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“There was no difference between patients receiving curcuminoids and those receiving placebo with regard to incidence of treatment withdrawal due to adverse events (RR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.21, 3.79]).”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy of curcumin and Boswellia for knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- adults with knee osteoarthritis; curcuminoid vs placebo; safety endpoint
Effect 0.9 risk ratio, 95% CI 0.21 to 3.79
Efficacy of curcumin and Boswellia for knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.2018PMID:29622343
No detected effect on serum creatinine concentration
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“A comparison of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and creatinine levels revealed no significant differences between the curcumin and placebo groups.”
Quoted verbatim from Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Dose
- Oral ethanolic Curcuma longa rhizome extract standardised to 75-85% total curcuminoids, 250 mg curcuminoids per capsule, three capsules twice daily (1500 mg curcuminoids/day) for 12 months
- Population
- Obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus managed on metformin (age >=35 y, BMI >=23 kg/m2, HbA1c <6.5%), Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; 227 randomised, per-protocol analysis and the analysed count is not reported in the paper; prespecified safety/adverse-effect assessment, not an efficacy endpoint (declared primary outcome: liver steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter)
Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025PMID:41096556Industry funded
No detected effect on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull resultreplicated ×1“Nanocurcumin supplementation showed no significant effects on fasting blood glucose (SMD: -0.44; 95% CI: -2.16 to 1.28), HbA1c (SMD: 0.19; 95% CI: -1.26 to 1.65), or lipid profile parameters, including total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglycerides (all p > 0.05).”
Quoted verbatim from Evaluating the Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 336
- Population
- adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
No detected effect on serum alkaline phosphatase
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull resultreplicated ×1“The mean change in ALP levels was − 0.77 ± 14.54 U/L in the nanocurcumin group and − 5.57 ± 20.37 U/L in the placebo group, with no significant difference between groups in the crude analysis ( P = 0.262).”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of nano-curcumin supplementation on liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD-associated fibrosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.. - Study
- RCT
- Dose
- Oral nanomicellar curcumin (nano-curcumin, Exir Nano Sina), one 40 mg capsule twice daily with a main meal (80 mg/day) for 16 weeks
- Population
- Adults aged 30-70 y with NAFLD-associated liver fibrosis of METAVIR stage F2 or higher, Tehran, Iran; 55 randomised and all 55 analysed with no withdrawals (27 nano-curcumin, 28 placebo); secondary endpoint (declared primary outcomes: liver fibrosis and steatosis by FibroScan and the FIB-4 index); unadjusted between-group comparison of change from baseline; the between-group difference remained non-significant after adjustment for baseline values, age, sex, diabetes, calorie intake change and BMI (P = 0.161); serum ALP by enzyme colorimetric method on a Cobas c 311 analyser
Effect of nano-curcumin supplementation on liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD-associated fibrosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.2025PMID:41168313Industry funded
No detected effect on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull resultreplicated ×1“However, curcumin was not significantly associated with HbA1c based on pooling three included studies with MD (95% CI) of −0.24 (−0.66, 0.18) %, I2 = 85.8%, see Supplementary Appendix P.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); 3 RCTs pooled; glycaemic indices were an additional (secondary) outcome of this review
Effect -0.24 mean difference, 95% CI -0.66 to 0.18
No detected effect on systolic blood pressure (setting unspecified)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“Five studies assessed changes in blood pressure indicating no significant effect of curcumin supplementation on both SBP and DBP with pooled MD (95% CI) of −0.29 (−0.91, 0.34) and −0.02 (−0.55, 0.52) mmHg, respectively, see Supplementary Appendix V–W.”
Quoted verbatim from An updated meta-analysis of effects of curcumin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on available evidence from Iran and Thailand.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Dose
- 80–3000 mg/day pooled across bioavailability-enhanced forms (80–1000 mg/day), curcumin extracts (1500 mg/day) and turmeric powder (2000–3000 mg/day)
- Population
- Adults with MAFLD (NAFLD/NASH); 5 RCTs; blood pressure was an additional (secondary) outcome and the acquisition protocol is not recoverable from the pooled estimate
Effect -0.29 mean difference, 95% CI -0.91 to 0.34
No detected effect on triglycerides
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“Nanocurcumin supplementation showed no significant effects on fasting blood glucose (SMD: -0.44; 95% CI: -2.16 to 1.28), HbA1c (SMD: 0.19; 95% CI: -1.26 to 1.65), or lipid profile parameters, including total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglycerides (all p > 0.05).”
Quoted verbatim from Evaluating the Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 373
- Population
- adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
No detected effect on fasting blood glucose
SuggestiveGrade C, Suggestive. Weak human evidence, or strong evidence in a mismatched population.FindingNull result“Nanocurcumin supplementation showed no significant effects on fasting blood glucose (SMD: -0.44; 95% CI: -2.16 to 1.28), HbA1c (SMD: 0.19; 95% CI: -1.26 to 1.65), or lipid profile parameters, including total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglycerides (all p > 0.05).”
Quoted verbatim from Evaluating the Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 389
- Population
- adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)