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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2006 Dec;4(12):1502-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2006.08.008. Epub 2006 Nov 13.

Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Hiroyuki Hanai  1 , Takayuki Iida, Ken Takeuchi, Fumitoshi Watanabe, Yasuhiko Maruyama, Akira Andoh, Tomoyuki Tsujikawa, Yosihihide Fujiyama, Keiichi Mitsuyama, Michio Sata, Masami Yamada, Yasushi Iwaoka, Kazunari Kanke, Hideyuki Hiraishi, Kazuhisa Hirayama, Hajime Arai, Shigehito Yoshii, Masato Uchijima, Toshi Nagata, Yukio Koide
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Hiroyuki Hanai et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Dec.

Abstract

Background & aims: Curcumin is a biologically active phytochemical substance present in turmeric and has pharmacologic actions that might benefit patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim in this trial was to assess the efficacy of curcumin as maintenance therapy in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Eighty-nine patients with quiescent UC were recruited for this randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial of curcumin in the prevention of relapse. Forty-five patients received curcumin, 1g after breakfast and 1g after the evening meal, plus sulfasalazine (SZ) or mesalamine, and 44 patients received placebo plus SZ or mesalamine for 6 months. Clinical activity index (CAI) and endoscopic index (EI) were determined at entry, every 2 months (CAI), at the conclusion of 6-month trial, and at the end of 6-month follow-up.

Results: Seven patients were protocol violators. Of 43 patients who received curcumin, 2 relapsed during 6 months of therapy (4.65%), whereas 8 of 39 patients (20.51%) in the placebo group relapsed (P=.040). Recurrence rates evaluated on the basis of intention to treat showed significant difference between curcumin and placebo (P=.049). Furthermore, curcumin improved both CAI (P=.038) and EI (P=.0001), thus suppressing the morbidity associated with UC. A 6-month follow-up was done during which patients in both groups were on SZ or mesalamine. Eight additional patients in the curcumin group and 6 patients in the placebo group relapsed.

Conclusions: Curcumin seems to be a promising and safe medication for maintaining remission in patients with quiescent UC. Further studies on curcumin should strengthen our findings.

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Comment in

  • Curcumin for maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis.
    Moss AC. Moss AC. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 May;5(5):642; author reply 642. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2007.03.002. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007. PMID: 17478350 No abstract available.
  • Curry for the cure?
    Devlin SM. Devlin SM. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2007 Dec;13(12):1576-7. doi: 10.1002/ibd.20229. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2007. PMID: 17663428 No abstract available.

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