Does turmeric/curcumin supplementation impact inflammatory and oxidative balance in adults?
High-Bioavailability Curcumin, a systematic review and meta-analysis — turmeric/curcumin supplementation significantly reduced CRP (WMD: -0.58 mg/l), TNF-α (WMD: -3.48 pg/ml), and IL-6 (WMD: -1.31 pg/ml). No significant change was found for IL-1β (WMD: -0.46 pg/ml). Source: Cytokine 2023, PMID 36804260.
Source: Cytokine 2023, PMID 36804260 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
Cytokine · 2023 · PMID 36804260 · DOI 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144
Turmeric/curcumin supplementation can reduce inflammation and improve antioxidant status in adults.
The question
Does turmeric/curcumin supplementation impact inflammatory and oxidative balance in adults?
What they tested
Turmeric and its bioactive compound, curcumin, may affect inflammatory and oxidative balance in the body.
How they did it
This systematic review and meta-analysis searched major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) up to October 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The main outcomes included inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and oxidative stress markers (TAC, MDA, SOD activity). Weighted mean differences (WMDs) were reported, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. Sixty-six RCTs were included in the final analysis.
What they found
Turmeric/curcumin supplementation significantly reduced CRP (WMD: -0.58 mg/l), TNF-α (WMD: -3.48 pg/ml), and IL-6 (WMD: -1.31 pg/ml). No significant change was found for IL-1β (WMD: -0.46 pg/ml). Supplementation also significantly enhanced TAC (WMD = 0.21 mmol/l), reduced MDA levels (WMD = -0.33 µmol/l), and increased SOD activity (WMD = 20.51 u/l).
| CRP | -0.58 | |
|---|---|---|
| TNF-α | -3.48 | |
| IL-6 | -1.31 | |
| IL-1β | -0.46 |
Weighted mean differences (WMD) for inflammatory markers after turmeric/curcumin supplementation. Negative values indicate a reduction.
What it means
Turmeric/curcumin supplementation significantly reduces several inflammatory markers and improves antioxidant activity.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cytokine |
| Year | 2023 |
| PMID | 36804260 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144 ↗ |
| Topic | Immunity, inflammation & resilience |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.
High-Bioavailability Curcumin
Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials generally find that curcumin/turmeric supplementation lowers CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha and improves oxidative-stress markers, with symptomatic benefits reported in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, modest LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride reductions in cardiometabolic…
Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid and yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a rhizome long…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does turmeric/curcumin supplementation impact inflammatory and oxidative balance in adults? [Plain-English summary of Cytokine 2023, PMID 36804260, DOI 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d36804260.html@misc{magellan_d36804260,
title = {Does turmeric/curcumin supplementation impact inflammatory and oxidative balance in adults?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d36804260.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 36804260; DOI 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144; Cytokine 2023. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
}https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d36804260.htmlRelated studies in the Magellan library
- Profiling Inflammatory Biomarkers following Curcumin Supplementation: An Umbrella…Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · 2023 · PMID 36700039
- Does curcumin supplementation effectively reduce systemic inflammatory mediators in humans?Nutr Rev · 2021 · PMID 34378053
- Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritisBr J Sports Med · 2018 · PMID 29018060
- What is the association between the C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index (CTI) and…Cardiovasc Diabetol · 2025 · PMID 40750895
- A clinical evaluation of a topical antioxidant formulation featuring vitamin C, astaxanthin…J Cosmet Dermatol · 2023 · PMID 37608511
- The Effect of Berberine Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Inflammatory Biomarkers in…Clin Ther · 2023 · PMID 38016844
All 17 Magellan summaries on immunity, inflammation & resilience →
Prefer the interactive version? Open this summary in the Magellan app → · Browse all 314 study summaries →