Meta-analysis shows curcumin reduces weight but lacks impact on BMI or waist circumference in metabolic fatty liver disease patients
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Key Takeaway
Curcumin significantly reduces weight in MAFLD patients but does not significantly affect BMI or waist circumference.
This umbrella meta-analysis evaluated the effects of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric outcomes in individuals diagnosed with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. The study pooled data to assess changes in body mass index, waist circumference, and overall weight following the intervention period.
results indicated that curcumin supplementation led to a statistically significant reduction in total body weight. The standardized mean difference for weight was negative, suggesting a beneficial effect on this specific metric compared to the control group.
Conversely, the analysis found no significant impact on body mass index or waist circumference. Statistical power was notably low for BMI assessments, while findings for waist circumference also failed to reach significance. The study authors noted that dose and duration effects were not significant.
Overall, the evidence suggests curcumin may help reduce weight but does not substantially alter other key anthropometric indices. Further well-designed, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the clinical relevance of these effects on anthropometric indices.
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View Original Abstract ↓
BACKGROUND: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects approximately 30% of the global population and is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric indices such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and weight are crucial markers for evaluating the progression of MAFLD. Curcumin, a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has been investigated for its potential to improve metabolic outcomes. This umbrella review aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices in patients with MAFLD, considering epidemiological strength and power analysis.
METHODS: An umbrella review of meta-analyses from randomized controlled trials was conducted. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to September 2024. Meta-analyses assessing curcumin's effects on BMI, weight, and WC in MAFLD patients were included. Quality was assessed using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews version (AMSTAR-2) tool, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic. Statistical analyses were performed using R and Stata 18 software.
RESULTS: Curcumin supplementation had no significant effect on BMI (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.24 to 0.21, P = .91) with low power (1-β = 0.03) and a low epidemiological grade according to GRADE criteria. Similarly, curcumin showed no significant effect on WC (SMD: -0.27; 95% CI: -0.57 to 0.04, P = .08) with high power (1-β = 0.96) but low epidemiological strength. However, curcumin significantly reduced weight (SMD: -0.12; 95% CI: -0.19 to -0.04, P < .01) with moderate power (1-β = 0.56) and moderate epidemiological strength. No significant effect of dose or effect of supplementation duration was found.
CONCLUSION: Curcumin supplementation may result in a statistically detectable but clinically modest reduction in body weight in patients with MAFLD, while showing limited or no efficacy on BMI and waist circumference. The epidemiological strength of the evidence varies across outcomes and is of low to moderate quality. Further well-designed, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the clinical relevance of curcumin's effects on anthropometric indices.
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