The effects of curcumin on left ventricular function in patients with chronic renal failure

Background: Curcumin, a yellow substance found in turmeric, has not only antioxidative features and beneficial effects in the treatment of cancer, liver, heart, and pulmonary diseases but also anti-inflammatory and anticoagulative effects. This chemical has cardioprotective effects too. Objectives: In this study, we examined the effects of curcumin on left ventricular (LV) function in patients receiving dialysis for chronic renal failure. Methods: This study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted on 35 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis in the dialysis center of Baqiyatallah hospital. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the curcumin group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 15). The curcumin group received curcumin capsules at a dose of 500 mg every 8 hours for 6 weeks (1500 mg/d) and the control group received a placebo for 6 weeks at the same dose. Echocardiography was done before the use of the drug and once after the 6th week. Also, the ejection fraction (EF), representing LV function and size, was measured in both groups. Results: Themeanage was 44.2±13.4 years for the curcumin group and 45.4±6.2 years for the placebo group. The study population comprised 22 male and 13 female patients. There were no significant differences regarding demographic variables such as age, sex, and body mass index between the 2 groups. In the curcumin group, LVEF based on the volume changed from 50.6% ±7.1% to 51.5% ± 6.8% (P = 0.130). In the curcumin group, LVEF based on the diameter changed from 51.8% ± 3.8% to 52.4% ± 3.5% (P = 0.112). The changes in the mean EF before and after the intervention were not significant in each group. The EF, based on ventricular volume and diameter, was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In addition, the pulmonary artery pressuremeanin both groups did not significantly change after the intervention (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The administration of curcumin in patients undergoing dialysis had no positive effects on enhancing LVEF and LV function. Further research is required to shed sufficient light on this issue.