Dehzad · Cytokine 2023 · Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n=66 studies

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Cited 192 times in the scientific literature.

Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PubMed 36804260 · doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144 · record verified 2026-08-26

What was done

Authors conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar through October 2022. They evaluated randomized controlled trials investigating turmeric or curcumin supplementation in adults on markers of inflammation (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and oxidative stress (TAC, MDA, SOD activity). Pooled effect sizes were calculated as weighted mean differences (WMDs). Sixty-six RCTs were included.

What was found

Turmeric/curcumin supplementation significantly reduced: - CRP (WMD: -0.58 mg/l, 95% CI: -0.74 to -0.41) - TNF-α (WMD: -3.48 pg/ml, 95% CI: -4.38 to -2.58) - IL-6 (WMD: -1.31 pg/ml, 95% CI: -1.58 to -0.67) - MDA (WMD: -0.33 µmol/l, 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.12) It significantly increased antioxidant markers: - TAC (WMD: 0.21 mmol/l, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.33) - SOD activity (WMD: 20.51 u/l, 95% CI: 7.35 to 33.67) No significant change was found for IL-1β (WMD: -0.46 pg/ml, 95% CI: -1.18 to 0.27).

Why it matters

This review provides quantitative evidence across 66 clinical trials that turmeric and curcumin formulations can reduce circulating inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in adults.

Limits

The abstract pools heterogeneous turmeric and curcumin formulations and participant populations. It does not report total participant count, dose-response details, trial durations, adverse effects, or specific GRADE ratings per outcome.

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