Condition
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, causing inflammation in the skin, joints, kidneys and elsewhere, often in flares. Trials of curcumin found blood pressure improved, while a fish oil trial found no clear difference in blood flow. Both findings rest on small studies, only 24 people for curcumin and 60 for fish oil, so the evidence is limited at best.
Sources: PMID 22421908; PMID 29034576; PMID 17875549
- Supplements studied
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 8
- People studied
- 243
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | 24 people | ||
Studies that measured blood pressure | ||||||
| Inflammation | Improves (the measure goes down) | 3 studies | 24 people | |||
Studies that measured inflammation
| ||||||
| Kidney Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 24 people | ||||
| Proteinuria | Improves (the measure goes up) | 24 people | ||||
Key findings
- Blood PressureImproves (the measure goes down)
- Blood Flow
The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (higher doses may be needed; target 40–60 ng/mL)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids2–4 g EPA+DHA daily
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Effect of curcumin on inflammatory markers and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.
- The Effect of Antioxidant Polyphenol Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The Effectiveness of Curcumin, Resveratrol, and Silymarin on MASLD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Curcumin alleviates postprandial glycaemic response in healthy subjects: A cross-over, randomized controlled study
- Substantial Variability Across Individuals in the Vascular and Nutrigenomic Response to an Acute Intake of Curcumin: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress
- Novel Form of Curcumin Improves Endothelial Function in Young, Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study
- Effect of different curcuminoid supplement dosages on total in vivo antioxidant capacity and cholesterol levels of healthy human subjects
- Effects of Curcuma longa (turmeric) on postprandial plasma glucose and insulin in healthy subjects
- Combined inhibitory effects of soy isoflavones and curcumin on the production of prostate-specific antigen
- Effect of NCB-02, atorvastatin and placebo on endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 8-week study
- Chili, but not turmeric, inhibits iron absorption in young women from an iron-fortified composite meal
- Efficacy of Curcuma longa in relieving pain symptoms of knee osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
- Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Short-term effects of highly-bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study
- Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study
- Curcuminoid treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
- Safety and efficacy of Curcuma longa extract in the treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, during extended administration in osteoarthritis patients
- Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study
- Product-evaluation registry of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, for the complementary management of osteoarthritis
- The efficacy of Curcuma Longa L. extract as an adjuvant therapy in primary knee osteoarthritis: a randomized control trial
- A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Curene® versus Placebo in Reducing Symptoms of Knee OA
- Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin therapy for knee osteoarthritis: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.
- Effect of turmeric products on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
- Effects of curcumin on serum inflammatory biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin Lowers Serum Lipids and Uric Acid in Subjects With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- The effects of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Curcumin: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial
- Nano-curcumin improves glucose indices, lipids, inflammation, and Nesfatin in overweight and obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Curcumin as adjuvant treatment in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Turmeric Supplementation Improves Serum Glucose Indices and Leptin Levels in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases
- Does Turmeric/curcumin Supplementation Change Anthropometric Indices in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Highly bioavailable micellar curcuminoids accumulate in blood, are safe and do not reduce blood lipids and inflammation markers in moderately hyperlipidemic individuals
- Efficacy of Turmeric as Adjuvant Therapy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
- Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on lipid profile: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Bread enriched with phytosterols with or without curcumin modulates lipoprotein profiles in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. A randomised controlled trial
- The Effect of Curcumin on some of Traditional and Non-traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Pilot Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
- Effect of Curcumin on Serum Urate in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Effect of turmeric on glycemic status, lipid profile, hs-CRP, and total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
- Effects of phytosomal curcumin on anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance, cortisolemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease indices: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Highly absorptive curcumin reduces serum atherosclerotic low-density lipoprotein levels in patients with mild COPD
- Curcumin potentiates cholesterol-lowering effects of phytosterols in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. A randomised controlled trial
- Curcuminoids modify lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial
- Diverse effects of a low dose supplement of lipidated curcumin in healthy middle aged people
- Effects of supplementation with curcuminoids on dyslipidemia in obese patients: a randomized crossover trial
- Curcumin effects on blood lipid profile in a 6-month human study
- The effect of nano-curcumin on HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile in diabetic subjects: a randomized clinical trial
- Effects of Curcuminoids Plus Piperine on Glycemic, Hepatic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Curcumin attenuates urinary excretion of albumin in type II diabetic patients with enhancing nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) system and repressing inflammatory signaling efficacies
- The effects of curcumin supplementation on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum adiponectin, and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Reduction of atherogenic risk in patients with type 2 diabetes by curcuminoid extract: a randomized controlled trial
- Curcuminoids exert glucose-lowering effect in type 2 diabetes by decreasing serum free fatty acids: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Nano curcumin supplementation reduced the severity of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double-blind placebo- controlled clinical trial
- Curcumin extract for prevention of type 2 diabetes
- The effect of turmeric/curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices in subjects with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 103 Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effects of Curcumin on Postmenopausal Women's Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The effect of curcumin supplementation on weight loss and anthropometric indices: an umbrella review and updated meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin ingestion and exercise training improve vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal women
- Effect of endurance exercise training and curcumin intake on central arterial hemodynamics in postmenopausal women: pilot study
- Curcumin for depression: a meta-analysis
- Efficacy of curcumin, and a saffron/curcumin combination for the treatment of major depression: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Curcumin for the treatment of major depression: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study
- Chronic Supplementation of Curcumin Enhances the Efficacy of Antidepressants in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
- Curcumin as an add-on to antidepressive treatment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical study
- Add-on Treatment with Curcumin Has Antidepressive Effects in Thai Patients with Major Depression: Results of a Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
- Influence of red pepper spice and turmeric on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers in overweight females: a metabolomics approach
- The effectiveness of fermented turmeric powder in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase levels: a randomised controlled study
- Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on liver function in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Curcumin attenuates severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- The Effects of Curcumin on Weight Loss Among Patients With Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Clinical efficacy of the co-administration of Turmeric and Black seeds (Kalongi) in metabolic syndrome - a double blind randomized controlled trial - TAK-MetS trial
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoid-piperine combination in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial and an updated meta-analysis
- Effects of Nanocurcumin Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Lipid-modifying effects of adjunctive therapy with curcuminoids-piperine combination in patients with metabolic syndrome: results of a randomized controlled trial
- A Novel Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Formulation Improves Symptoms and Diagnostic Indicators in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Dose, Three-Arm, and Parallel-Group Study
- A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
- Influence of enhanced bioavailable curcumin on obesity-associated cardiovascular disease risk factors and arterial function: A double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial
- An investigation of the effects of curcumin on anxiety and depression in obese individuals: A randomized controlled trial
- Investigation of the efficacy of adjunctive therapy with bioavailability-boosted curcuminoids in major depressive disorder
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the role of curcumin in prostate cancer patients with intermittent androgen deprivation
- Oral supplementation of turmeric attenuates proteinuria, transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-8 levels in patients with overt type 2 diabetic nephropathy: a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study
- Potential role of curcumin phytosome (Meriva) in controlling the evolution of diabetic microangiopathy. A pilot study
- A pilot study of the antioxidant effect of curcumin in tropical pancreatitis
- Curcumin and/or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation reduces insulin resistance and blood lipids in individuals with high risk of type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial
- Upregulation of p53 expression in patients with colorectal cancer by administration of curcumin
- Phase IIa clinical trial of curcumin for the prevention of colorectal neoplasia
- Curcumin therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study
- Curcumin for the clinical treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.
- A Novel Curcumin-Galactomannoside Complex Delivery System Improves Hepatic Function Markers in Chronic Alcoholics: A Double-Blinded, randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
- Oral supplementation of turmeric decreases proteinuria, hematuria, and systolic blood pressure in patients suffering from relapsing or refractory lupus nephritis: a randomized and placebo-controlled study
- Curcumin protects DNA damage in a chronically arsenic-exposed population of West Bengal
- Improvement in oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients treated with curcuminoids
- Comparative evaluation of the pain-relieving properties of a lecithinized formulation of curcumin (Meriva(®)), nimesulide, and acetaminophen
- The effect of curcumin on lipid level in patients with acute coronary syndrome