BACKGROUND: There is a need for safe, inexpensive, and effective psoriasis therapies. Many anecdotal accounts of patients' successful treatment with the alternative medicine curcumin exist. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of oral curcumin in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We conducted a phase II, open-label, Simon's two-stage trial of 4.5 g/d of oral curcuminoid C3 complex in patients with plaque psoriasis. End points included improvement in Physicians Global Assessment score, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, and safety end points throughout the study. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis response rate was 16.7% (95% confidence interval: 2%, 48%) and both responders achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 score. There were no study-related adverse events that necessitated participant withdrawal. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and lack of placebo group are limitations. CONCLUSION: The response rate was low and possibly caused by a placebo effect or the natural history of psoriasis. Large placebo-controlled studies are necessary before recommending oral curcumin as a psoriasis treatment.
BACKGROUND: There is a need for safe, inexpensive, and effective psoriasis therapies. Many anecdotal accounts of patients' successful treatment with the alternative medicine curcumin exist. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of oral curcumin in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We conducted a phase II, open-label, Simon's two-stage trial of 4.5 g/d of oral curcuminoid C3 complex in patients with plaque psoriasis. End points included improvement in Physicians Global Assessment score, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, and safety end points throughout the study. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis response rate was 16.7% (95% confidence interval: 2%, 48%) and both responders achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 score. There were no study-related adverse events that necessitated participant withdrawal. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and lack of placebo group are limitations. CONCLUSION: The response rate was low and possibly caused by a placebo effect or the natural history of psoriasis. Large placebo-controlled studies are necessary before recommending oral curcumin as a psoriasis treatment.
Authors: Ricky A Sharma; Stephanie A Euden; Sharon L Platton; Darren N Cooke; Aisha Shafayat; Heather R Hewitt; Timothy H Marczylo; Bruno Morgan; David Hemingway; Simon M Plummer; Munir Pirmohamed; Andreas J Gescher; William P Steward Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2004-10-15 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Joel M Gelfand; Steven R Feldman; Robert S Stern; John Thomas; Tara Rolstad; David J Margolis Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: M T Huang; W Ma; Y P Lu; R L Chang; C Fisher; P S Manchand; H L Newmark; A H Conney Journal: Carcinogenesis Date: 1995-10 Impact factor: 4.944
Authors: Elias E Ayli; Susanne Dugas-Breit; Weijie Li; Christine Marshall; Liang Zhao; Marc Meulener; Thomas Griffin; Joel M Gelfand; John T Seykora Journal: Exp Dermatol Date: 2010-04-20 Impact factor: 3.960