Curcumin and bone metabolism in a systematic review
What it found
Curcumin was among three phenolic compounds reported to have positive effects on bone metabolism in lab and animal studies, with some human trials in osteopenia and osteoporosis.
The authors say it may help as an add-on treatment for bone conditions.
What they found
Studies in people
Osteopenia and osteoporosis in people
In women with osteopenia, taking 1000 mg of curcumin daily for 12 and 24 weeks improved bone density, shown by changes in heel ultrasound measurements. In women with osteoporosis, a combination of 110 mg curcumin and 5 mg alendronate daily for six months lowered bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and CTx, and raised osteocalcin, compared with baseline and the alendronate-only group.
Bone density with alendronate
The combination of curcumin and alendronate also improved bone mineral density in four zones (total body, hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine) after 12 months, compared with the control group and the alendronate-only group.
Tolerability in people
In all the human studies, curcumin was well tolerated and did not cause adverse effects. When used with bisphosphonates, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties seemed to reduce typical side effects like joint pain, muscle pain and stomach pain.
Animal and lab studies
Bone metabolism in lab studies
In lab studies, curcumin was reported to affect bone metabolism by blocking the RANKL pathway, which suppresses osteoclast growth and promotes osteoclast death. It also preserved bone structure by reducing MMP-9, an enzyme linked to breakdown of the matrix around cells.
Bone cancer in lab studies
In lab studies on bone cancer cells, a synthetic curcumin analogue called DK1 slowed the growth of two osteosarcoma cell lines and caused cell death through a mitochondria-dependent pathway. Another analogue, L48H37, reduced the invasion and migration of human osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting uPA and the JAK/STAT pathway.
Stem cells and bone formation
In lab studies with human bone marrow stem cells, low doses of curcumin (0.01 to 1 micromol per litre) increased cell growth, while higher doses (5 and 10 micromol per litre) caused cell death and reduced division. Treatment with small doses also boosted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited fat cell differentiation.
What the authors conclude
“According to the study findings, resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin are reported to have a wide variety of beneficial effects as supplement therapies.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that resveratrol, curcumin and quercetin are reported to have a wide variety of beneficial effects as supplement therapies.
- They state that the investigated phenolic compounds seem to positively mediate bone metabolism and osteoclast-related pathologies.
- They suggest that these compounds could be used as adjuvant treatments for osteoporosis, bone tumours and periodontitis, and on titanium surfaces of orthopaedic prostheses to improve bone formation and implant integration.
How it was done
The authors wanted to investigate the effects of resveratrol, curcumin and quercetin on bone metabolism and their potential role in diseases such as osteopenia, osteoporosis, bone tumours and periodontitis.
They searched six databases for studies published between January 2017 and 3 July 2022 using keywords linking each compound to bone. They included clinical trials in humans and lab studies on human cells, and found 36 relevant papers.
What it can’t tell you
- Many of the studies were done in lab dishes or animals, so they cannot show what happens in people.
- The human studies were small and few, and they cannot prove that curcumin alone causes the improvements seen.
- The review cannot say whether curcumin prevents fractures or works in the long term.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by European Social Found, Human Capital Operational Programme 2014-2020 (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy; University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy; University of Birmingham, UK
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Resveratrol, Curcumin and Quercetin Supplementation on Bone Metabolism-A Systematic Review
- Type
- Systematic review
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Inchingolo AD, Inchingolo AM, Malcangi G, et al (2022). Effects of Resveratrol, Curcumin and Quercetin Supplementation on Bone Metabolism-A Systematic Review. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14173519Free full textPubMed 36079777DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error