title: Clinical Use of Curcumin in Depression: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing interest in the use of curcumin, a plant polyphenol with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties, as a novel antidepressant. Clinical trials have yielded conflicting conclusions pertaining to its effectiveness in depression. A meta-analysis of the topic, which has not been done until now, is therefore necessary to summarize current evidence and generate hypotheses for further research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the keywords [curcumin OR diferuloylmethane OR curcuminoid OR turmeric OR Indian saffron] AND [depression OR MDD OR suicide], a preliminary search on the PubMed, Ovid, Clinical Trials Register of the Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group (CCDANTR), and Cochrane Field for Complementary Medicine database yielded 2081 articles published in English between January 1, 1960, and August 1, 2016.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six clinical trials with a total of 377 patients were reviewed, comparing the use of curcumin to placebo. In patients with depression, the pooled standardized mean difference from baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores (pooled standardized mean difference -0.344, 95% confidence interval -0.558 to -0.129; P = .002) support the significant clinical efficacy of curcumin in ameliorating depressive symptoms. Significant anti-anxiety effects were also reported in 3 of the trials. Notably, no adverse events were reported in any of the trials. Most trials had a generally low risk of bias, except for an open trial of curcumin and a single-blinded study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the small number of studies available, a funnel plot or sensitivity analysis was not possible. Evidence on the long-term efficacy and safety of curcumin is also limited as the duration of all available studies ranged from 4 to 8 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin appears to be safe, well-tolerated, and efficacious among depressed patients. More robust randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and follow-up studies carried out over a longer duration should be planned to ascertain its benefits.
authors.affiliation: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: ng.qin.xiang@u.nus.edu.
authors.forename: Qin Xiang
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Shawn Shao Hong
authors.initials: SSH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hwei Wuen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Collin Yih Xian
authors.initials: CYX
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Depression; antidepressant; complementary and alternative medicine; curcumin; curcuminoid; neuroprotective