Effectiveness of Curcuma longa Extract for the Treatment of Symptoms and Effusion–Synovitis of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial
Abstract
Background Current pharmacologic therapies for patients with osteoarthritis are suboptimal. Objective To determine the efficacy of Curcuma longa extract (CL) for reducing knee symptoms and effusion-synovitis in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and knee effusion-synovitis. Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000080224). Setting Single-center study with patients from southern Tasmania, Australia. Participants 70 participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and ultrasonography-defined effusion-synovitis. Intervention 2 capsules of CL ( n = 36) or matched placebo ( n = 34) per day for 12 weeks. Measurements The 2 primary outcomes were changes in knee pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and effusion-synovitis volume on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The key secondary outcomes were change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and cartilage composition values. Outcomes were assessed over 12 weeks. Results CL improved VAS pain compared with placebo by -9.1 mm (95% CI, -17.8 to -0.4 mm [ P = 0.039]) but did not change effusion-synovitis volume (3.2 mL [CI, -0.3 to 6.8 mL]). CL also improved WOMAC knee pain (-47.2 mm [CI, -81.2 to -13.2 mm]; P = 0.006) but not lateral femoral cartilage T2 relaxation time (-0.4 ms [CI, -1.1 to 0.3 ms]). The incidence of adverse events was similar in the CL ( n = 14 [39%]) and placebo ( n = 18 [53%]) groups (…
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The reason for the difference in clinical values between short- and long-term subgroup may be that all three studies in the short-term subgroup applied bio-optimized CURs, and two of the three studies in long-term subgroup used normal CURs.
“The reason for the difference in clinical values between short- and long-term subgroup may be that all three studies [62, 67, 71] in the short-term subgroup applied bio-optimized CURs, and two [65, 69] of the three [65, 66, 69] studies in long-term subgroup used normal CURs.”
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Feng, J., Li, Z., Tian, L., Mu, P., Hu, Y., Xiong, F., & Ma, X. (2022) · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03740-9 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wang, Z., Jones, G., Winzenberg, T., Cai, G., Laslett, L. L., Aitken, D., Hopper, I., Singh, A., Jones, R., Fripp, J., Ding, C., & Antony, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Tasmania (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
- Royal Hobart Hospital (AU)
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (J.F.)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Annals of Internal Medicine
- Publisher
- American College of Physicians
- Published
- 2020-12-01
- Volume
- 173
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 861-869
- ISSN
- 0003-4819 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-3704
- OpenAlex
- W3085016592
- Cited by
- 111
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 21
- FWCI
- 5.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UTAS Research Repository (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacological Effects of Medicinal Plants
- Keywords
- turmeric, turmeric extract, knee osteoarthritis, knee pain, knee effusion, synovitis, cartilage composition, T2 relaxation time, WOMAC, natural remedies, adverse events, knee ultrasound, cartilage degeneration, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Knee Joint, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Phytotherapy, Middle Aged, Pain Measurement, Plant Extracts, Synovitis, Ultrasonography, Arthralgia, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Curcuma
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