Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40918536›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Potential therapeutic benefits of curcumin in depression or anxiety induced by chronic diseases: a systematic review of mechanistic and clinical evidence.

Jiyuan Yuan, Chao Pi, Hongping Shen, Bi Zhou, Yumeng Wei, Nathupakorn Dechsupa, Ling Zhao

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jiyuan Yuan *Molecular Imaging and Therapy Research Unit, Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chao Pi *Central Nervous System Product Research and Development Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
Hongping Shen *Research Center for Clinical Trials, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
Bi ZhouCentral Nervous System Product Research and Development Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
Yumeng WeiCentral Nervous System Product Research and Development Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
Nathupakorn DechsupaMolecular Imaging and Therapy Research Unit, Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Ling ZhaoLuzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Depression and anxiety are prevalent comorbidities in individuals with chronic diseases, significantly impairing their quality of life and complicating disease management. Curcumin, derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic benefits in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, its specific effects on depressive or anxiety symptoms associated with chronic diseases (DACD) remain unclear. Methods: This review aims to comprehensively evaluate curcumin's efficacy and underlying mechanisms through a meta-analysis of human clinical trials supplemented by findings from animal studies. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, and OVID databases (until 25 October 2024), with PROSPERO registration number CRD42024602837. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,123 adult participants were included. Results: Meta-analysis showed a statistically significant effect of curcumin on depressive symptoms (SMD: -0.65, P = 0.01, 95% CI: -1.16 to -0.13, I Discussion: These findings highlight curcumin's potential in alleviating DACD. However, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to considerable heterogeneity across studies, limited sample size, variations in curcumin formulations and dosages, and potential publication bias. Nevertheless, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current clinical and mechanistic evidence supporting curcumin's role as an adjunctive treatment for depression and anxiety associated with various chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, migraines, arthritis, coronary heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic syndromes. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024602837, identifier CRD42024602837.

Indexed as

anxietychronic diseaseco-occurring disorderscurcumindepressive

Identifiers

PMID40918536
PMCPMC12411784

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.