Curcumin supplementation lowers serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels and increases physical functions in knee osteoarthritis patients
Keywords:
curcumin, knee osteoarthritis (KOA), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), WOMAC, physical functionsAbstract
Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease driven by low-grade chronic inflammation. Longterm dependence on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is constrained by serious systemic risks, highlighting the clinical need for safe, bioavailable adjuvant therapies such as curcumin phytosome.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of daily curcumin phytosome supplementation versus placebo in primary KOA, with oral naproxen restricted to as-needed (PRN) rescue analgesia.
Methods: In this 4-week randomized, single-blind, parallel-group trial, 74 patients with primary KOA (Kellgren–Lawrence grades 1–2) received either curcumin phytosome (250 mg twice daily; n = 52) or matching placebo (n = 22). Oral naproxen (250 mg) was permitted only as rescue medication. Serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 levels, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and physical performance tests, including the 3-minute walk test (3-MWT), gait speed test (GST), chair stand test (CST), and timed up and go (TUG) test, were assessed at baseline and week 4. Changes from baseline (Δ) were compared between groups using the Mann– Whitney U test.
Results: Compared with the placebo group, curcumin supplementation demonstrated significantly greater reductions in serum IL-1β (P = 0.001) and IL-6 (P = 0.0282). Significant improvements were also observed in WOMAC pain (P = 0.0038), stiffness (P = 0.0043), physical function (P <0.0001), total WOMAC score (P <0.0001), VAS pain score (P <0 .05), GST (P = 0.039), and TUG (P = 0.0174). There were no significant differences in the 3-MWT and CST between placebo group and curcumin group.
Conclusions: Daily curcumin supplementation resulted in greater reductions in serum IL-1β and IL-6 as well as greater improvements in pain, physical function, and selected mobility outcomes, compared with placebo in primary KOA patients.
