title: Impact of Supplementation with Curcuminoids on Systemic Inflammation in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Findings from a Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease associated with inflammation. The present study aimed to determine changes in serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers in OA patients whose clinical symptoms were improved as a result of supplementation with curcuminoids.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized double-blind placebo-control parallel-group clinical trial in which 40 subjects with mild-to-moderate degree knee OA were randomly allocated to receive either pure curcuminoids (1,500 mg/day in 3 divided doses; n=19) or matched placebo (n=21) for 6 weeks. In order to enhance the bioavailability of curcuminoids, piperine (15 mg/day) was added to the treatment regimen. Serum levels of interleukins 4 (IL-4) and 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), together with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined at baseline as well as at the end of trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum concentrations of IL-4 (p=0.001), IL-6 (p=0.006) and hs-CRP (p=0.004) were significantly reduced in the curcuminoid group whilst serum levels of TNF-α and TGF-β and mean ESR remained unaltered by the end of trial (p>0.05). In the placebo group, serum concentrations of IL-4 (p=0.001), IL-6 (p=0.003), TNF-α (p=0.003) and TGF-β (p=0.005) were significantly reduced but mean hs-CRP and ESR values remained statistically unchanged (p>0.05). Comparison of the magnitude of changes in the evaluated inflammatory biomarkers did not indicate any significant difference between the study groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant improvement in clinical symptoms of OA in curcuminoid-treated subjects cannot be attributed to the systemic anti-inflammatory effects of these phytochemicals.
authors: Orthopedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: A-R
authors: AR
authors: Rahimnia
authors: Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical -Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Panahi
authors: Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Alishiri
authors: Orthopedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sharafi
authors: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sahebkar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D003474:Curcumin