Efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with hand osteoarthritis: a pilot double-blinded randomised controlled trial

Background: Curcumin, a substance in Turmeric spices, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective properties in several preclinical studies. However, there is limited research on the efficacy and side effects of oral curcumin in treating hand osteoarthritis. Thus, the primary aim of this pilot study was to assess the therapeutic effects and potential adverse effects of curcumin in patients with hand osteoarthritis, specifically in terms of pain reduction, improvement in functional outcomes, and relevant blood test parameters. Method: This pilot prospective double-blind, randomized controlled trial included patients over 50 years old diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis. Participants received a three-month oral administration of either a turmeric capsule containing curcumin (170 mg/day) or a placebo. The outcomes measures included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, hand grip and pinch strength, as well as side effects and blood tests at one, two, three, and six months. Results: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in this study—13 in the curcumin group and 14 in the placebo group. Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups. Although patients in the curcumin group showed reductions in VAS pain scores and improvements in DASH scores after one month, the differences were not statistically significant. However, by the third month, patients in the curcumin group demonstrated significant reductions in VAS pain scores at rest and during activity compared to the baseline scores, with mean differences of 1.37 ± 0.64 (p-value = 0.032) and 1.74 ± 0.73 (p-value = 0.017), respectively. Additionally, their DASH scores improved significantly with a mean difference of 11.84 ± 5.88 (p = 0.044). One patient in the curcumin group experienced gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, leading to withdrawal from the study, but no other adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: Based on the results of this pilot study, the authors conclude that a three-month regimen of low-dose oral curcumin may improve pain and functional scores in patients with hand osteoarthritis compared to placebo. However, GI discomfort remains a potential side effect to monitor. Overall, curcumin appears to be a safe and feasible alternative treatment option for hand osteoarthritis, and a larger, definitive randomised controlled trial is warranted. Trial registration: The trial has been registered in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry(TCTR) database. The identification number is TCTR20210929003.