The study, published in late December in the journal Nutrients, was the work of a contract research organization and a university in Australia as well as an employee of Dolcas Biotech. Dolcas supplied its proprietary Curcugen turmeric extract for the study. Dolcas also supplied the funding.
The researchers recruited 101 subjects in Perth, Australia for the randomized, placebo-controlled study. Cohort of OA sufferers
The cohort included both men and women and ranged in age from 45 to 70. All participants had a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis from a physician. The participants covered the gamut of body types, from very lean (BMI of 20) to moderately obese (BMI of 35). One of the inclusion criteria was a knee pain rating in the previous week of at least 6 on a 0-10 scale.
The participants took two capsules containing 500 mg of Curcugen or a placebo, divided among two daily doses, for eight weeks. Curcugen is described as a dispersible, 98.5% turmeric-based ingredient that contains 50% curcuminoids, 1.5% essential oils, and other native turmeric molecules, including turmeric polysaccharides.
Study measured outcomes via questionnaires, performance tests
The primary outcome was something called the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, or KOOS. This is described as “an extension of the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index and is a validated self-report questionnaire designed to assess short and long-term patient-relevant outcomes associated with knee injury and pain.”
KOOS contains 42 scored items relating to knee pain, knee stiffness, function in daily life and effects when participating in sports. It also includes an overall quality of life score.