A daily dose of curcumin, the part of the turmeric plant that gives it its yellow color, reduced interleukin (IL)-17 levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after 2 months, according to results of a small randomized controlled trial presented at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) 2026 Annual Meeting in Phoenix on October 20.
COPD is the third leading cause of death globally, and effective anti-inflammatory add-on therapies are needed to address the chronic inflammation it causes, Retno Ariza Soemarwoto, MD, head of the pulmonary and respiratory medicine study program at the University of Lampung in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, told attendees.
“IL-17 is a pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokine driving neutrophilic airway inflammation in COPD,” Soemarwoto said. “Curcumin is a polyphenol with known anti-inflammatory properties that may modulate this pathway.”
The design was triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial at Dr. H. Abdul Moeloek General Hospital in Bandar Lampung from October 2025 to July 2026. Of 68 male participants with COPD, 34 were randomly assigned to take 1 g/d of curcumin, and 34 took a placebo for 60 days. Patients, investigators, and assessors were blinded to the treatment allocation.