Profiling Inflammatory Biomarkers following Curcumin Supplementation: An Umbrella Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Umbrella meta-analysis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 36700039 · doi:10.1155/2023/4875636
What was done
An umbrella meta-analysis systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar through March 20, 2022. Authors pooled meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers using a random-effects model. Effect sizes (ES) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were synthesized, and evidence certainty was assessed using GRADE.
What was found
Analysis of 10 meta-analyses encompassing 5,870 participants showed significant reductions across all assessed inflammatory markers following curcumin supplementation: - C-reactive protein (CRP): ES = -0.74 (95% CI: -1.11 to -0.37, p < 0.001; I² = 62.1%, p = 0.015) - Interleukin-6 (IL-6): ES = -1.07 (95% CI: -1.71 to -0.44, p < 0.001; I² = 75.6%, p < 0.001) - Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α): ES = -1.92 (95% CI: -2.64 to -1.19, p < 0.001; I² = 18.1%, p = 0.296) Subgroup analyses indicated greater reductions in CRP and TNF-α in trials with a mean participant age >45 years and sample size >300.
Why it matters
This umbrella review synthesizes existing meta-analytic evidence, showing consistent decreases in circulating CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α with curcumin intake.
Limits
Substantial heterogeneity was present for CRP (I² = 62.1%) and IL-6 (I² = 75.6%). As an umbrella review, primary trial overlap across the included meta-analyses is likely. The abstract does not specify curcumin formulations, dosages, intervention durations, specific participant clinical populations, or the final GRADE certainty ratings.
Cited by
- supports Curcumin supplementation significantly lowers circulating levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha.