The efficacy of curcumin-piperine co-supplementation on clinical symptoms, duration, severity, and inflammatory factors in COVID-19 outpatients: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Small RCT 46 outpatients in Iran, 23 treated with curcimin-piperine, showing no significant differences in recovery. 1000mg curcumin and 10mg piperine/day for 14 days.
risk of no recovery, 125.0% higher, RR 2.25, p = 0.58, treatment 3 of 8 (37.5%), control 1 of 6 (16.7%), dyspnea.
risk of no recovery, 433.3% higher, RR 5.33, p = 0.19, treatment 2 of 6 (33.3%), control 0 of 7 (0.0%), continuity correction due to zero event (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm), ague.
risk of no recovery, 72.9% lower, RR 0.27, p = 0.04, treatment 2 of 12 (16.7%), control 8 of 13 (61.5%), NNT 2.2, weakness.
risk of no recovery, 40.0% lower, RR 0.60, p = 0.42, treatment 3 of 10 (30.0%), control 7 of 14 (50.0%), NNT 5.0, muscular pain.
risk of no recovery, 38.5% lower, RR 0.62, p = 0.65, treatment 4 of 13 (30.8%), control 4 of 8 (50.0%), NNT 5.2, headache.
risk of no recovery, 71.4% higher, RR 1.71, p = 1.00, treatment 2 of 7 (28.6%), control 1 of 6 (16.7%), sore throat.
risk of no recovery, 12.5% lower, RR 0.88, p = 1.00, treatment 1 of 8 (12.5%), control 1 of 7 (14.3%), NNT 56, sputum cough.
risk of no recovery, no change, RR 1.00, p = 1.00, treatment 3 of 13 (23.1%), control 3 of 13 (23.1%), dry cough.
Askari et al., 6 Jun 2022, Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial, placebo-controlled, Iran, peer-reviewed, 11 authors, study period November 2020 - April 2021, trial IRCT20121216011763N46.
Abstract: (2022) 23:472
Askari et al. Trials
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06375-w
Open Access
RESEARCH
The efficacy of curcumin‑piperine
co‑supplementation on clinical symptoms,
duration, severity, and inflammatory factors
in COVID‑19 outpatients: a randomized
double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial
Gholamreza Askari1,2,3, Amirhossein Sahebkar4,5,6, Davood Soleimani7, Atena Mahdavi3, Sahar Rafiee3,
Muhammed Majeed8, Farzin Khorvash9, Bijan Iraj10, Mahshid Elyasi3, Mohammad Hossein Rouhani1 and
Mohammad Bagherniya1,2,3*
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has made the disease a major global problem by creating a significant burden on
health, economic, and social status. To date, there are no effective and approved medications for this disease. Curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent can have a positive effect on the control of COVID-19 complications. This study
aimed to assess the efficacy of curcumin-piperine supplementation on clinical symptoms, duration, severity, and
inflammatory factors in patients with COVID-19.
Methods: Forty-six outpatients with COVID-19 disease were randomly allocated to receive two capsules of curcumin-piperine; each capsule contained 500 mg curcumin plus 5 mg piperine or placebo for 14 days.
Results: Mean changes in complete blood count, liver enzymes, blood glucose levels, lipid parameters, kidney function, and c-reactive protein (CRP) were not significantly different between the two groups. There was a significant
improvement in health status, including dry cough, sputum cough, ague, sore throat, weakness, muscular pain, headache, and dyspnea at week 2 in both curcumin-piperine and placebo groups (P value < 0.05); however, the improvement in weakness was more in the curcumin-piperine group than with placebo group (P value 025).
Conclusion: The present study results showed that curcumin-piperine co-supplementation in outpatients with
COVID-19 could significantly reduce weakness. However, in this study, curcumin-piperine co-supplementation could
not significantly affect the other indices, including biochemical and clinical indices.
Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20121216011763N46. 2020-10-31
Keywords: COVID-19, Curcumin, Piperine, Clinical trial, Clinical symptoms
*Correspondence: baghrerniya@nutr.mui.ac.ir
1
Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, PO
Box: 00983137922110, Isfahan, Iran
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
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