Efficacy of oral consumption of curcumin/Curcuma longa for symptom improvement in inflammatory bowel disease:A systematic review of animal models and a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

The roots of the vegetal Curcuma due to its high content of polyphenols,has been used successfully in several clinical situations.This review assessed the effect of curcumin/Curcuma longa on symptoms and metabolic changes in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).A systematic review of animal models and randomized clinical trials(RCTs)was conducted by searching the following electronic databases:PubMed,CENTRAL,LILACS,Science Direct,and ClinicalTrials.gov.From 997 found records,62 were included.More than 90%of the animal studies reported an improvement in macroscopic,histologic and/or functional activity;80%identified decreased oxidative and/or inflammatory biomarkers in animals treated with curcumin.Among the RCTs,intention-to-treat analysis showed that oral curcumin was effective in inducing clinical remission(n=281,RR:3.15 CI 95%[1.22–8.10]p=0.0017;i2=72.2%,p=0.006)and clinical response(n=259,RR:1.60 CI 95%[1.09–2.35]p=0.0017;i2=59.7%,p=0.042)but not endoscopic remission(n=161,RR:2.91 CI 95%[0.58–14.58]p=0.195;i2=72.7%,p=0.026).These results confirm that oral supplementation with curcumin/Curcuma longa has beneficial actions in animal colitis and,when associated with drug therapy,is effective in the treatment of patients with IBD.

Gut-liver axis in sepsis-associated liver injury:Epidemiology,challenges and clinical practice

Although the liver has a remarkable regenerative capacity,sepsis-associated liver injury(SLI)is a complication often seen in intensive care units.Due to its role in immune and inflammatory regulation,the liver is particularly vulnerable during severe infections.Understanding the global prevalence,causes,and management of SLI is essential to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.This paper aims to explore these factors,with an emphasis on identifying effective strategies for clinical management.Zhang et al’s bibliometric analysis of 787 publications(745 original articles and 42 reviews,mostly in animal models)from 2000 to 2023 highlights the growing interest in SLI,focusing on oxidative stress,gut microbiota,and inflammatory processes.Key components such as nuclear factor-kappa B and the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 inflammasome pathway,along with their links to gut microbiota imbalance and oxidative stress,are crucial for understanding SLI pathogenesis.The gut-liver axis,particularly the role of intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in liver inflammation,is emphasized.In this context,bacterial translocation is especially relevant for critically ill patients,as it can exacerbate liver inflammation.The findings underscore the need for integrated care in intensive care units,prioritizing gut health and careful antibiotic use to prevent dysbiosis.Despite extensive research,there remains a lack of clinical trials to validate therapeutic approaches.The abundance of experimental studies highlights potential therapeutic targets,stressing the need for high-quality randomized clinical trials to translate these findings into clinical practice.