title: Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcumin is a biologically active phytochemical substance present in turmeric and has pharmacologic actions that might benefit patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim in this trial was to assess the efficacy of curcumin as maintenance therapy in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients with quiescent UC were recruited for this randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial of curcumin in the prevention of relapse. Forty-five patients received curcumin, 1g after breakfast and 1g after the evening meal, plus sulfasalazine (SZ) or mesalamine, and 44 patients received placebo plus SZ or mesalamine for 6 months. Clinical activity index (CAI) and endoscopic index (EI) were determined at entry, every 2 months (CAI), at the conclusion of 6-month trial, and at the end of 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were protocol violators. Of 43 patients who received curcumin, 2 relapsed during 6 months of therapy (4.65%), whereas 8 of 39 patients (20.51%) in the placebo group relapsed (P=.040). Recurrence rates evaluated on the basis of intention to treat showed significant difference between curcumin and placebo (P=.049). Furthermore, curcumin improved both CAI (P=.038) and EI (P=.0001), thus suppressing the morbidity associated with UC. A 6-month follow-up was done during which patients in both groups were on SZ or mesalamine. Eight additional patients in the curcumin group and 6 patients in the placebo group relapsed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin seems to be a promising and safe medication for maintaining remission in patients with quiescent UC. Further studies on curcumin should strengthen our findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopic and Photodynamic Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, and Center for Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu South Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanai
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Fumitoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujikawa
authors.forename: Yosihihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwaoka
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanke
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiraishi
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Shigehito
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshii
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchijima
authors.forename: Toshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koide
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D019804:Mesalamine; D003474:Curcumin