The Effect of a Dispersible Curcumin (HydroCurc®) Compared to a Placebo for Reducing Joint Pain in an Adult Population – A Randomised, Double-Blind Study

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel curcumin formulation, HydroCurc®, for alleviating joint pain and improving quality of life in adults. Method: A randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on adults aged 25–70 years reporting joint pain. Eighty participants received either curcumin or a placebo daily for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was a self-assessed reduction in pain as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, completed daily in the morning and evening. Quality of life was assessed by the RAND 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Results: VAS pain scores reduced over the 2 weeks of treatment in both groups. Morning VAS scores were significantly reduced from baseline in the curcumin and placebo groups from day 6 and 12, respectively. Morning VAS scores were significantly lower in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group for days 11, 13, and 14 (p < 0.05). Evening VAS scores were significantly reduced from baseline in the curcumin and placebo groups from day 5 and 6, respectively. There were no differences in the evening VAS scores, SF-36 nor POMS between groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that HydroCurc® is an effective option for reducing morning joint pain. Future studies would benefit from investigating whether long-term supplementation and/or a split dose can show further improvements in pain scores.