The effect of curcumin supplementation on renal function: A systematic and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background: We performed a meta-analysis to examine the effect of oral curcumin on serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Methods: Using four databases, a systematic search was performed up to May 2022 using relevant keywords. To analyze the impact of combined trials, we applied the weighted mean difference (WMD) in a random-effects model. Results: In total, 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found an overall significant effect of oral curcumin supplementation on improved creatinine (WMD: −0.08, 95 CI: −0.14, −0.03 mg/dL; P = 0.004). Serum levels of BUN increased following curcumin supplementation (WMD: 0.41, 95 CI: −0.23, 1.05 mg/dL; P < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, curcumin showed significantly favorable effects on serum BUN in trials with longer duration of curcumin intervention. Conclusion: Oral curcumin with high bioavailability has a positive impact on serum levels of creatinine and BUN when supplemented for > 8 weeks in patients with inflammatory diseases. © 2022