Effects of Nanocurcumin on Inflammatory Factors and Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with sepsis: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Abstract Introduction Sepsis is a severe reaction and excessive immune response to infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ dysfunction, and death. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin on inflammatory factors and clinical outcomes in patients with sepsis. Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with sepsis aged 18–55 years, who received 160 mg of nanocurcumin supplement (two capsules 80 mg) or placebo (two capsules of placebo) via a nasogastric tube for 10 days. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) was evaluated on days 1 and 10. Serum levels of inflammatory factors of procalcitonin (PCT), Interleukin- 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, (TNF-α),and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured before the beginning of the intervention and on days 5 and 10. Length of hospital stay, mortality rate, and mechanical ventilation duration was compared between groups. Results Serum levels of PCT (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.012), and TNF-α (p = 0.026) in the nanocurcumin group on day 10 were significantly lower than the placebo group. The duration of mechanical ventilation in the nanocurcumin group was remarkably (p = 0.038) lower than the placebo group. Also, the SOFA score significantly (p = 0.005) decreased in the intervention group compared to the placebo group. No significant difference was observed in the mean serum levels of hs-CRP, duration of the intensive care unit stay, and mortality rates between the study groups. Conclusions Our study indicated that nanocurcumin could decrease the levels of inflammatory factors, duration of mechanical ventilation, and organ failure in critically ill patients.