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Studies on Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging Research in Iran pp 295–326Cite as

A Systematic Review of the Clinical Use of Curcumin for the Management of Gastrointestinal Diseases

Part of the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology book series (PMISB,volume 1291)

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are highly prevalent worldwide, with considerable morbidity and mortality. Curcumin has been used for many years as a plant-derived product for the management of various conditions such as abdominal pain and poor digestion. This systematic review was undertaken with the aim of investigating the effect of curcumin or turmeric supplementation on GI diseases. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar up to March 2020 to identify clinical trials assessing the effect of curcumin/turmeric alone or in combination with other herbs or nutrients on GI diseases. Twenty-one studies comprising 1478 GI patients were included in the study. Four out of seven studies showed a beneficial effect of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and six out of seven showed positive effects of these herbs on ulcerative colitis. Two out of four studies highlighted the potential role of curcumin/turmeric in eradication of H. pylori infection. Both studies conducted on peptic ulcer disease and two out of four studies performed on Crohn’s disease demonstrated positive effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation. One study showed curcumin supplementation had no effect on familial adenomatous polyposis. However, in another study, curcumin had favorable effects on proctosigmoiditis. Nine studies reported some minor adverse effects. The results of this systematic review suggest a beneficial effect of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on the management of GI diseases. More randomized clinical controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.

Keywords

  • Gastrointestinal diseases
  • Curcumin
  • Turmeric
  • IBS
  • Ulcerative colitis

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Fig. 18.1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Masoumeh Atefi, Mohammad Hassan Entezari & Mohammad Bagherniya

  2. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mina Darand

  3. Department of Food Science and Technology, Quchan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quchan, Iran

    Tannaz Jamialahmadi

  4. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Tannaz Jamialahmadi

  5. Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  6. Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  7. Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute (PMMHRI), Lodz, Poland

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  8. Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

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  1. Masoumeh Atefi
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  1. University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Dr. Paul C. Guest

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Atefi, M., Darand, M., Entezari, M.H., Jamialahmadi, T., Bagherniya, M., Sahebkar, A. (2021). A Systematic Review of the Clinical Use of Curcumin for the Management of Gastrointestinal Diseases. In: Guest, P.C. (eds) Studies on Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging Research in Iran. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 1291. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56153-6_18

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