Background

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative and progressive disease of the knee joint and is characterized by knee pain and loss of function. Effusion (excess synovial fluid within the joint) and synovitis (thickening of the connective tissue that lines the inside of the joint capsule) are signs of localized inflammation within the knee joint and are common in people with knee osteoarthritis. Curcuma longa extract (turmeric) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Could it improve knee pain and knee joint effusion–synovitis in people with knee osteoarthritis?

The study

In this 12-week randomized controlled trial, 70 adults ≥40 years of age with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, significant knee pain on most days, and a moderate amount of effusion-synovitis took tablets containing either 1,000 mg of Turmacin Plus (a water-soluble composition derived from turmeric that contains turmerosaccharides and 20% curcuminoids) or a placebo.

The two primary outcomes were change in knee pain, as assessed by a visual analogue scale, and change in knee effusion–synovitis volume, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

The secondary outcomes were knee pain and function assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), response to treatment, change in cartilage composition, use of pain medication, quality of life, physical performance measures, and adverse events.

The results

Turmacin Plus improved knee pain compared to placebo (-43% vs. -27%), but there were no differences between groups in knee effusion–synovitis volume.

Turmacin Plus improved pain and function assessed by WOMAC more than the placebo and resulted in a higher number of participants who responded to the treatment.

Note

The researchers tested two primary outcomes without adjusting for multiple comparisons. If they had done so, the differences in knee pain between groups would become nonsignificant.

It’s also worth noting that the trial was funded by the company that manufactures Turmacin Plus.

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This Study Summary was published on February 5, 2021.