Effect of curcumin on cardiometabolic diseases in the elderly: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

As people age, the incidence of cardiometabolic diseases rises, negatively impacting their quality of life; therefore, it is important to supplement the diet with compounds that can manage these conditions. Curcumin (Cur), a common dietary spice, may benefit the health of the elderly. This systematic review evaluates Cur's effectiveness in improving cardiometabolic disease symptoms.

Relevant studies were identified from searches conducted in Scopus, Embase, and PubMed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool.

Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Cur supplementation (CurS) in elderly individuals resulted in significant improvements in several metabolic and inflammatory markers, including reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.03), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.04), fasting blood sugar (p = 0.02), and HOMA-IR (p = 0.01) compared with controls. Additionally, a significant decrease in triglyceride levels (p = 0.04) and an increase in HDL (p = 0.03) were observed. However, effects on other cardiovascular indices were inconsistent across the studies.

These findings suggest that Cur may serve as an adjunctive therapy for age-related cardiometabolic diseases; however, variability in outcomes and protocols limits the ability to make broad recommendations. Future research should focus on large, well-powered RCTs with standardized dosing, formulations, and treatment durations, including long-term follow-up to assess sustained efficacy and delayed adverse effects. Comprehensive safety monitoring and detailed documentation of supplement composition and patient characteristics are also needed to clarify heterogeneity and identify those at higher risk for complications.