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Cur9.0
Curcumin Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
150 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Curcumin appears to help in 8 of 10 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2016–2026 with a typical study size of 166 participants.
Based on 150 studies · 32 meta-analyses · 20 RCTs · 50,258 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
8helped1unclear1didn't help· 140 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Therapeutic & clinical
Likely helps54 studies
InflammationSignificant reduction in inflammatory markers · 4-8 weeks
141 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
201620212026
1Pain and stiffness in knee osteoarthritisMeta-Analysisn=4,599 · very large study2025
However, further large-scale, well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to confirm these findings, particularly those that include more standardized dosages and formulations, as well as to evaluate their long-term efficacy.
Zhang Y et al. · Nutrients (2025)
Bayesian rankings indicated Boswellia had the highest probability of being most effective for pain and stiffness, with krill oil and curcumin showing potential for function improvement.
Conclusions: Nutritional supplements, particularly Boswellia, appear to be effective and well-tolerated for improving KOA symptoms and function.
These results suggest that certain supplements may be useful as part of non-pharmacological KOA management.
2Depressive disorder symptomsMeta-AnalysisCited 1×n=17,437 · very large study2025
This extensive systematic review and NMA of nutraceuticals for treating depressive disorders indicated a number of nutraceuticals that could offer benefits, either as adjuncts or monotherapies.
Cheng YC et al. · Psychological medicine (2025)
Adjunctive nutraceuticals consistently showed better efficacy than antidepressants (ADT) alone in outcomes including SMD, remission, and response.
This extensive systematic review and NMA of nutraceuticals for treating depressive disorders indicated a number of nutraceuticals that could offer benefits, either as adjuncts or monotherapies.
4Global cognitive outcomesMeta-AnalysisCited 4×n=531 · large study2025
Preclinical in vivo evidence suggests curcumin enhances cognitive function in AD models.
Yu L et al. · The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease (2025)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In preclinical in vivo murine studies (n = 25; total animals = 572), curcumin consistently improved both acquisition memory (SMD = -1.78, 95 % CI: -2.12 to -1.43) and retention memory (SMD = 2.36, 95 % CI: 1.72 to 3.00) in rodent models of AD.
Overall, curcumin showed no significant effect on global cognitive outcomes compared to placebo (SMD = 0.14, 95 % CI: -0.78 to 1.07).
Subgroup analyses revealed significant improvements in working memory (SMD = 1.01, 95 % CI: 0.15 to 1.87) and processing speed (SMD = 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.07 to 0.67).
7Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease parametersMeta-AnalysisCited 64×n=2,173 · very large study2022
Based on current evidence, curcumin can reduce BMI, TG, TC, liver enzymes, and insulin resistance; catechin can reduce BMI, insulin resistance, and TG effectively; silymarin can reduce liver enzymes.
Yang K et al. · Frontiers in immunology (2022)
Based on current evidence, curcumin can reduce BMI, TG, TC, liver enzymes, and insulin resistance; catechin can reduce BMI, insulin resistance, and TG effectively; silymarin can reduce liver enzymes.
For resveratrol, naringenin, anthocyanin, hesperidin, and catechin, more RCTs are needed to further evaluate their efficacy and safety.
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Curcumin.
Moradi Baniasadi M et al. · Nutrition & diabetes (2025)
Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI), with a p-value ≤ 0.05 indicating statistical significance.
The study found that turmeric/curcumin has a beneficial effect on some obesity indicators, which could contribute to weight management in individuals with prediabetes and T2DM.
Systematic Review Registration: This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023440612.
In light of presented findings, curcumin has beneficial effects on serum markers of inflammation, weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with PCOS.
Shen W et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology (2022)
In light of presented findings, curcumin has beneficial effects on serum markers of inflammation, weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with PCOS.
The incidence of adverse reactions does not increase with the application of curcumin.
However, a larger, more definitive study is needed to further investigate these results.
While the potential benefits were observed, it is recommended that future trials focus on finding a suitable dose and duration of intervention and incorporate formulation in curcumin to enhance its absorption.
Mokgalaboni K et al. · Nutrients (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The data were reported as either mean difference (MD) or standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals.
Supplementation with curcumin led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, MD = -11.48 mg/dL, 95%CI (-14.26, -8.70), p < 0.01 and glycated hemoglobin, MD = -0.54%, 95%CI (-0.73, -0.35), p < 0.01.
Additionally, there was a significant decrease in C-Reactive Protein in curcumin compared to a placebo, SMD = -0.59, 95%CI (-1.11, -0.07), p = 0.03.
Turmeric extract and curcumin supplements can be effective adjuvants for the management of musculoskeletal health, with a low incidence of AEs.
Doyle L et al. · Alternative therapies in health and medicine (2023)
The χ2 value of the random effects model was 216.5545 for skeletal muscle health studies and 1400.65 for joint health studies, which was statistically significant with P < .0001 for both analyses.
Turmeric extract and curcumin supplements can be effective adjuvants for the management of musculoskeletal health, with a low incidence of AEs.
The water-dispersible turmeric extract, WDTE60N, at a dose of 250 mg per day, was found to be more effective than other curcumin products.
Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of Psoriasis, UC and RA, so Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract could be used in the treatment of the above diseases in the future.
Zeng L et al. · Frontiers in immunology (2022)
Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of Psoriasis, UC and RA, so Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract could be used in the treatment of the above diseases in the future.
The results of Meta-analysis showed that Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract did not show efficacy in the treatment of oral lichen planus, while Takayasu arteritis, SLE, MS, AS, BD and CD did not report sufficient clinical data for meta-analysis.
Therefore, large-sample, multi-center clinical trials are still needed for revision or validation.
19Osteoarthritis pain and joint mobilityMeta-AnalysisCited 14×n=11 · very small study2024
The results strongly support curcuminoid supplementation in relieving pain, improving joint mobility and stiffness, and shortening medication usage of OA patients.
Bideshki MV et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2024)
Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were utilized to obtain the overall effect size.
A random-effects model was applied to perform the meta-analysis.
Heterogeneity was determined by I2 statistics and the Cochrane Q-test.
Shojaei-Zarghani S et al. · Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (2022)
Therefore, despite promising animal results, the present literature is limited to conclude the beneficial effects of curcumin on the clinical management of PSCO symptoms.
The impact of bioavailability-improved formulations of curcumin on PCOS should be assessed in further well-designed RCTs with longer duration and higher doses of curcumin.
Besides, mechanistic investigations on the effects of curcumin on PCOS are also recommended.