PMU7 - Effects of Turmeric on Clinical Conditions: Umbrella Reviews of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

To perform umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis (SR-MA) investigating effects of Turmeric on any clinical condition in human. PUBMED, AMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception till December 2017. AMSTAR2 was used to evaluate quality of included studies. We estimated the effect size by using random-effects and fixed-effects models, the 95%Confidence and prediction intervals. The heterogeneity between studies was assessed by I2 (defined as large for I² ≥50%). The small study effects were assessed by funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s regression test. Whenever more than one SR-MA had been performed on the same clinical condition, we included the one with the largest number of primary studies to avoid duplication. The evidence was graded into convincing, suggestive, or weak. Overall, 22 SR-MA with 53 unique meta-analyses (MA) with moderate-high methodological quality were included. The effects of Turmeric on a wide range of clinical conditions were determined including musculoskeletal pain, joint arthritis, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer, potentially malignant disorders, oral lichen planus, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome/dyslipidemia/obesity, uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients, and skin disorders (acne, facial photoaging, eczema, androgenic alopecia, psoriasis, vitiligo, radio-protective in head-neck, and breast cancer). Among these, Turmeric significant improved health outcomes of knee OA, depression, and metabolic syndrome or dyslipidemia with p-value<0.001 (I²<50%, no small-study effects). Other conditions, except anxiety, Alzheimer, oral lichen planus, androgenic alopecia, and vitiligo were significant improved by Turmeric with p-value<0.05. Since all MA evaluating patients less than 1000 and 95%PI including the null value, evidence grading was weak. Although Turmeric effects showed benefit in several clinical conditions, small sample size limited the quality of evidence. Further large trials need to confirm the benefit of Turmeric on these conditions.