Acute Effects of Turmeric Extracts on Knee Joint Pain: A Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial

Calderón-Pérez L, Llauradó E, Companys J, Pla-Pagà L, Boqué N, Puiggrós F, Valls RM, Pedret A, Llabrés JM, Arola L, Solà R · Journal of Medicinal Food

Both arms improved on most WOMAC pain items and no between-group difference was found; only the turmeric arm reduced night and standing pain and lowered hs-CRP (p=0.045) at one week.

Population

Adults 18 to 65 with mild-to-moderate knee joint pain (WOMAC pain 6 to 10 of 20), Spain; active arthritis excluded

Intervention

Water-soluble turmeric extract with insoluble curcuminoids (B-Turmactive) for 1 week

Comparator

Brewer's yeast placebo

Limitations

One week, pilot size, and the primary comparison between treatments was null: the placebo arm improved on the same items. Participants had knee pain, not diagnosed osteoarthritis. Funded by Spain's Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico e Industrial; one author is an employee of PLAMECA, the formulation's maker, and no other author declares a competing interest.