Profiling Inflammatory Biomarkers following Curcumin Supplementation: An Umbrella Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Navid Naghsh, Vali Musazadeh, Omid Nikpayam, Zeynab Kavyani, Amir Hossein Moridpour, Fatemeh Golandam, Amir Hossein Faghfouri, Alireza Ostadrahimi
Abstract
Objective . Several meta‐analyses have shown that curcumin can reduce inflammatory biomarkers, but the findings are inconsistent. The objective of the present umbrella meta‐analysis was to provide a more accurate estimate of the overall effects of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers. Methods . The following international databases were systematically searched until March 20, 2022: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. A random‐effects model was applied to evaluate the effects of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers. Meta‐analysis studies investigating the effects of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers with corresponding effect sizes (ES) and confidence intervals (CI) were included in the umbrella meta‐analysis. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Results . A meta‐analyses of ten studies with 5,870 participants indicated a significant decrease in C‐reactive protein (CRP) (ES = −0.74; 95% CI: −1.11, −0.37, p < 0.001; I 2 = 62.1%, p = 0.015), interleukin 6 (IL‐6) (ES = −1.07; 95% CI: −1.71, −0.44, p < 0.001; I 2 = 75.6%, p < 0.001), and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐ α ) levels (ES: −1.92, 95% CI: −2.64, −1.19, p < 0.0; I 2 = 18.1%, p = 0.296) following curcumin supplementation. Greater effects on CRP and TNF‐ α were evident in trials with a mean age >45 years and a sample size >300 participants. Conclusion . The umbrella of meta‐analysis suggests curcumin as a promising agent in reducing inflammation as an adjunctive therapeutic approach in diseases whose pathogenesis is related to a higher level of inflammatory biomarkers.