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.

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.

• Authors: Gholamreza Askari, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Davood Soleimani, Atena Mahdavi, Sahar Rafiee, Muhammed Majeed, Farzin Khorvash, Bijan Iraj, Mahshid Elyasi, Mohammad Hossein Rouhani, Mohammad Bagherniya
• Journal: Trials (Trials) Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pg. 472 (Jun 06 2022) ISSN: 1745-6215 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35668500 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Alkaloids
• Benzodioxoles
• Piperidines
• Polyunsaturated Alkamides
• Curcumin
• piperine

Topics

• Alkaloids
• Benzodioxoles
• Cough (drug therapy)
• Curcumin (adverse effects)
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Iran
• Outpatients
• Pandemics
• Piperidines
• Polyunsaturated Alkamides
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment