title: Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Curcumin, an active ingredient of Curcuma longa Linn (Zingiberaceae), has shown potential antidepressant-like activity in animal studies. The objectives of this trial were to compare the efficacy and safety of curcumin with fluoxetine in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Herein, 60 patients diagnosed with MDD were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio for six weeks observer-masked treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg) and curcumin (1000 mg) individually or their combination. The primary efficacy variable was response rates according to Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 17-item version (HAM-D17 ). The secondary efficacy variable was the mean change in HAM-D17 score after six weeks. We observed that curcumin was well tolerated by all the patients. The proportion of responders as measured by the HAM-D17 scale was higher in the combination group (77.8%) than in the fluoxetine (64.7%) and the curcumin (62.5%) groups; however, these data were not statistically significant (P = 0.58). Interestingly, the mean change in HAM-D17 score at the end of six weeks was comparable in all three groups (P = 0.77). This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders. .
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jayesh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanmukhani
authors.forename: Vimal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Satodia
authors.forename: Jaladhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Tejas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panchal
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Chandra Bhanu
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Tripathi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: CNS; antidepressant; clinical trial simulations; curcumin; major depressive disorder