Effects of curcumin on anthropometric measurements in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An umbrella meta-analysis study.

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.