The role of curcumin in the management of pain and inflammation across clinical conditions. A narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2026.88.69388Keywords
curcumin, pain, inflammation, osteoarthritis, exercise-induced muscle damage, metabolic disordersAbstract
Background: Chronic pain frequently coexists with low-grade inflammation, and long-term use of NSAIDs and opioids is limited by adverse effects. Curcumin, a primary bioactive polyphenol derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), modulates inflammatory and oxidative pathways.
Aim: To synthesize current clinical evidence on the effects of curcumin on pain, functional outcomes, and inflammatory markers across selected conditions.
Material and Methods: This narrative review was based on PubMed searches combining terms related to curcumin/turmeric with pain, inflammation, and specific diseases. Open Access randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were prioritized; mechanistic studies were included to contextualize clinical findings. No formal risk-of-bias assessment was performed.
Results: The most consistent evidence concerns osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), where pain reduction and improvements in functional and inflammatory parameters have been reported. In exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), curcumin more consistently reduces delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and creatine kinase (CK) than systemic cytokine responses. In metabolic disorders, effects on inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP) and insulin resistance appear modest. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), benefits do not clearly exceed those of lifestyle modification. Variability likely reflects differences in dose, formulation, bioavailability and duration.
Conclusions: Curcumin appears safe and may serve as an adjunct in the management of inflammatory pain. Well-designed long-term trials are needed to define optimal formulations and target populations.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Barbara Tomczak, Karolina Klubikowska, Dagmara Porada, Dominika Żukowiecka-Sęga, Wiktoria Tłoczek , Daria Twardowska, Małgorzata Wandzel, Kamil Topolski , Barbara Jelonek , Wiktoria Śliwa
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