title: Decrease of a specific biomarker of collagen degradation in osteoarthritis, Coll2-1, by treatment with highly bioavailable curcumin during an exploratory clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of osteoarthritis (OA) remains a challenge. There is a need not only for safe and efficient treatments but also for accurate and reliable biomarkers that would help diagnosis and monitoring both disease activity and treatment efficacy. Curcumin is basically a spice that is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In vitro studies suggest that curcumin could be beneficial for cartilage in OA. The aim of this exploratory, non-controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of bio-optimized curcumin in knee OA patients on the serum levels of specific biomarkers of OA and on the evaluation of pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty two patients with knee OA were asked to take 2x3 caps/day of bio-optimized curcumin (Flexofytol®) for 3 months. They were monitored after 7, 14, 28 and 84 days of treatment. Pain over the last 24 hours and global assessment of disease activity by the patient were evaluated using a visual analog scale (100 mm). The serum levels of Coll-2-1, Coll-2-1NO2, Fib3-1, Fib3-2, CRP, CTX-II and MPO were determined before and after 14 and 84 days of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment with curcumin was globally well tolerated. It significantly reduced the serum level of Coll2-1 (p<0.002) and tended to decrease CRP. No other significant difference was observed with the other biomarkers. In addition, curcumin significantly reduced the global assessment of disease activity by the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the potential effect of curcumin in knee OA patient. This effect was reflected by the variation of a cartilage specific biomarker, Coll2-1 that was rapidly affected by the treatment. These results are encouraging for the qualification of Coll2-1 as a biomarker for the evaluation of curcumin in OA treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01909037 at clinicaltrials.gov.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, Institute of Pathology, University of Liège, Level 5, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium. yhenrotin@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Henrotin
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharbi
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dierckxsens
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Priem
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.forename: Adelin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heuse
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castermans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000097:blood*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000652:urine; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; C119630:EFEMP1 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D003094:Collagen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D009195:Peroxidase; D003474:Curcumin