Curcumin's Pain-Relief Benefits: A Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies

Jim Crocker
27th August, 2024

Curcumin's Pain-Relief Benefits: A Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Iran University of Medical Sciences found that curcumin significantly reduces chronic pain
  • In animal studies, curcumin was effective when administered orally or intraperitoneally, but not subcutaneously
  • Nano-curcumin showed a strong pain-reducing effect in clinical studies, outperforming placebo treatments
Chronic pain is a persistent challenge in medical treatment, often requiring effective and safe therapies. Curcumin, a natural compound derived from the Curcuma genus, has garnered attention for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by the Iran University of Medical Sciences aimed to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin and its nano-formulation in treating chronic pain across clinical and preclinical studies[1]. This comprehensive analysis included 59 studies, comprising 29 animal studies and 30 clinical studies. The researchers utilized various databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane, and Google Scholar to gather relevant trials up to April 1, 2023. The study applied the mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) in random or fixed-effects models to analyze the combined impact of the trials. Potential biases were assessed using the Higgins method for clinical studies and the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool for animal studies. The meta-analysis revealed that curcumin significantly reduced pain in preclinical studies. Both intraperitoneal (SMD = 1.48; 95% CI, 0.81 to 2.14; p < 0.001, and I2 = 77.9%) and oral (SMD = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.55; p < 0.001, and I2 = 0.0%) administration methods of curcumin demonstrated pain-relieving effects. However, the subcutaneous method showed no significant effect (SMD = 0.24; 95% CI, - 0.89 to 1.38; p = 0.67). Additionally, curcumin's efficacy within the 100-250 mg range (SMD = 1.46; 95% CI, 0.76 to 2.15; p < 0.001; and I2 = 73.4%) was higher compared to doses above 250 mg (SMD = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.57; p < 0.001; and I2 = 0.0%). In clinical studies, nano-curcumin showed a powerful effect on pain reduction compared to placebo (MD =  - 1.197; CI 95% (- 1.94 to - 0.45); p = 0.002; and I2 = 80.9%). The addition of Curcuma longa extract did not significantly alter the effects of NSAIDs on pain (MD =  - 0.23; CI 95% (- 0.99 to 0.53); p = 0.554; and I2 = 92%). Furthermore, increased bioavailability of curcumin (MD =  - 1.54; CI 95% (- 2.06 to - 1.02); p < 0.001; and I2 = 89.6%), curcumin (MD =  - 1.35; CI 95% (- 2.451 to - 0.252); p = 0.016; and I2 = 90.8%), and nano-curcumin was more effective than placebo. These findings align with previous studies that have highlighted curcumin's potential in managing various inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions. For instance, curcumin has been shown to improve kidney and nerve functions in diabetic rats by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation[2]. Another study demonstrated curcumin's efficacy in improving clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory disorder, by acting as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent[3]. Furthermore, curcumin's inhibitory effects on neuroglial proliferation suggest its potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's[4]. The current study builds on these earlier findings by specifically focusing on chronic pain, a condition that often involves complex inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms. The inclusion of nano-curcumin, a formulation designed to enhance curcumin's bioavailability, adds a significant dimension to the research, demonstrating that improved absorption can lead to more effective pain management. In summary, the systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by the Iran University of Medical Sciences provide robust evidence that curcumin and nano-curcumin are effective in reducing chronic pain. These findings have important implications for pharmaceutical science and could pave the way for developing new treatments for chronic pain. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the long-term safety and efficacy of curcumin-based therapies.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) The analgesic effect of curcumin and nano-curcumin in clinical and preclinical studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Published 26th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-024-03369-0

Related Studies

2) Effects of curcumin and captopril on the functions of kidney and nerve in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: role of angiotensin converting enzyme 1.

https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0145

3) A Novel Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Formulation Improves Symptoms and Diagnostic Indicators in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Dose, Three-Arm, and Parallel-Group Study.

https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2017.3930

4) Curcumin inhibits dose-dependently and time-dependently neuroglial cell proliferation and growth.

Journal: Neuro endocrinology letters, Issue: Vol 24, Issue 6, Dec 2003


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