Efficacy and Safety of Turmeric Extracts for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Wang Z, Singh A, Jones G, Winzenberg T, Ding C, Chopra A, Das S, Danda D, Laslett L, Antony B · Current Rheumatology Reports

Turmeric reduced knee pain (SMD -0.82, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.47, I2 86.2%) and improved function (SMD -0.75, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.33, I2 90.1%) versus placebo, and matched NSAIDs with 12% fewer adverse events. No biochemical or imaging outcome differed between groups in any trial, and higher BMI predicted less benefit.

Population

16 RCTs of up to 16 weeks in adults with knee osteoarthritis

Intervention

Turmeric extracts of all types

Comparator

Placebo (11 trials) or NSAIDs (5 trials)

Limitations

Heterogeneity near 90%, moderate risk of bias across the included trials, and all follow-up is 16 weeks or less; the authors state there is some uncertainty about the true effect.