DOI: 10.4103/nsmc.nsmc_17_26 ISSN: 2621-2064

Curcumin Extract Intraoral Supplementation Reduces Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognitive Function in Mild-moderate Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

I Made Stepanus Biondi Pramantara, Nyoman Golden, Dewa Putu Gede Purwa Samatra, Putu Pramana Suarjaya
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A
BSTRACT

Introduction:

Head injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with secondary injury driven by inflammation and oxidative stress contributing to neuronal damage and cognitive impairment. Curcumin, an active compound of Curcuma longa, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties that may attenuate these processes. This study evaluated the effect of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes in head injury patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 9–15.

Methods:

The study was conducted at RSUP Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah, Denpasar, from February to August 2023. The study received ethical approval from the Komisi Etik FK UNUD. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality. Changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) from Day 0 to Day 7 were calculated for each patient and compared between the treatment and control groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Indonesian Version (MoCA-INA) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores were also compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test.

Results:

Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed a significantly greater reduction in CRP (−0.95 ± 6.52 vs. 2.24 ± 7.04; P = 0.012), NLR (−3.04 ± 5.47 vs. 1.90 ± 7.14; P = 0.001), and PLR (−10.0 ± 72.0 vs. 25.0 ± 59.5; P = 0.003). No significant between-group differences were observed in GOS (4.76 ± 0.43 vs. 4.90 ± 0.30; P = 0.220) or MoCA-INA scores (median 27 [interquartile range (IQR) 5] vs. 29 [IQR 5]; P = 0.425). However, subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in MoCA-INA scores among patients with moderate head injury (median 25 vs. 24; P = 0.025).

Conclusion:

Curcumin supplementation significantly reduced inflammatory markers but did not improve overall cognitive or functional outcomes. Curcumin may serve as an adjunctive therapy for head injury, although further studies are needed to determine its long-term clinical benefits.

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