Curcumin is one of the natural compounds found in turmeric, a herb native to India and Southeast Asia. The compound has a long history of traditional use in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for a range of conditions, including digestive, blood, and liver disorders.
Curcumin has drawn increased clinical interest due to its beneficial antioxidant and neuroprotective properties and its support for the inflammation system.
Clinical trials involving Curcumin
Curcumin in Combination With Mesalamine Induces Remission in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Controlled Trial
A multi-center randomized placebo-control trial, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2015, sought to determine the efficacy of curcumin used in conjunction with mesalamine for treating UC.
By week 4, among patients who were given curcumin: 65.3% experienced a clinical response (versus 12.5% on the placebo), 53.8% achieved clinical remission (versus none on the placebo), and 38% of patients acheived endoscopic remission (versus none on the placebo).
Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
A double-blind, randomized clinical trial evaluated curcumin supplementation as an add-on to standard therapy in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). Participants received either curcumin (1,500 mg/day) or placebo for eight weeks.
Results showed significant improvements in disease activity, quality of life, and inflammation markers among those taking curcumin compared to placebo. Clinical activity scores dropped more sharply in the curcumin group, while quality of life scores rose significantly. Laboratory markers of inflammation also improved, with reductions in C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) observed in the curcumin group.
The study concluded that curcumin, when used alongside standard drug therapy, was associated with meaningful improvements in symptoms, quality of life, and inflammatory measures in mild-to-moderate UC.
The effect of curcumin supplementation on clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers in patients with ulcerative colitis
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluated curcumin supplementation in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). Participants received either curcumin (1,500 mg per day) or placebo for eight weeks, alongside their standard therapy.
Results showed a significantly greater improvement in clinical disease activity among those taking curcumin compared to placebo. Quality of life scores also improved markedly in the curcumin group. Laboratory findings supported these outcomes, showing reductions in key inflammatory markers—C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)—in those receiving curcumin, while tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels remained unchanged.
The study concluded that curcumin, when used together with standard treatment, is associated with meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes, quality of life, and inflammation in mild-to-moderate UC.
Novel Bioenhanced Curcumin With Mesalamine for Induction of Clinical and Endoscopic Remission in Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-controlled Pilot Study
A randomized clinical trial evaluated a novel bioenhanced curcumin (BEC) as an add-on to standard mesalamine therapy in patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC). Participants received either BEC (50 mg twice daily) or placebo and were assessed for clinical and endoscopic remission over a three-month period, with follow-up at six and twelve months.
Results showed clear benefits for the curcumin group. After six weeks, 44% achieved clinical remission and 35% achieved endoscopic remission, compared with none in the placebo group. At three months, clinical remission was seen in 56% and endoscopic remission in 44% of patients receiving BEC, versus 6% in the placebo group. Clinical response rates were also significantly higher in those taking BEC.
Among patients who responded to curcumin, 95% maintained remission at six months, and 84% remained in remission at twelve months, while none of the placebo responders sustained remission beyond six months. The treatment was well tolerated, with no significant side effects reported.
The study concluded that low-dose bioenhanced curcumin was safe and significantly more effective than placebo in inducing and maintaining remission when used alongside mesalamine in mild-to-moderate UC.
Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
A randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial evaluated curcumin as a maintenance therapy for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in remission. Participants received either curcumin (1 g twice daily) or placebo, alongside their standard treatment with sulfasalazine or mesalamine, for six months, followed by another six months of observation.
Results showed that relapse was significantly less common among those taking curcumin. During the six-month treatment period, only 4.7% of patients in the curcumin group relapsed, compared with 20.5% in the placebo group. Curcumin also led to measurable improvements in both clinical and endoscopic activity scores, indicating reduced disease activity.
During the six-month follow-up, while all participants continued standard therapy, additional relapses occurred in both groups. The study concluded that curcumin appeared to be a safe and promising option for maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Comparison of remicade to curcumin for the treatment of Crohn’s disease: A systematic review
A systematic review examined available research on the potential role of curcumin as a safe complementary therapy for adults with Crohn’s disease (CD), particularly when used alongside Remicade® (infliximab). Researchers searched major medical databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and ProQuest, for peer-reviewed studies published after 2007 that met predefined inclusion criteria.
Findings indicated that inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are elevated in Crohn’s disease, and that loss of response to Remicade can occur as IL-1 levels rise. Across reviewed studies, patients receiving curcumin showed reductions in disease activity scores and inflammatory markers, including IL-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), and TNF-α. Curcumin was also associated with decreases in PPMTase, a mechanism linked to improved colorectal outcomes.
The review concluded that curcumin appears to be a safe and inexpensive adjunct that may help reduce inflammation and disease activity in Crohn’s disease. Preliminary evidence suggests that combining curcumin with Remicade could potentially reduce loss of response, warranting further clinical investigation.
Administration of dietary antioxidants for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
A systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of dietary antioxidants on clinical outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). After reviewing available studies, only those investigating curcumin met inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis.
Results showed consistent and significant benefits of curcumin supplementation in patients with IBD. Compared to control groups, curcumin was associated with higher rates of clinical and endoscopic remission, greater improvement in clinical symptoms, and better quality of life scores. It also produced a stronger overall clinical response across analyzed trials.
The authors concluded that curcumin significantly improved both clinical and endoscopic outcomes in IBD, while enhancing quality of life and reducing disease activity. They emphasized the need for further large-scale, long-term studies to confirm these findings and explore the broader role of dietary antioxidants in IBD management.