Turmeric for Patients With Basal Joint Arthritis

NCT03017118 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2016P001402
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to assess whether the use of a commercially available nutraceutical, turmeric, is an effective option to manage pain and stiffness in patients with basal joint arthritis. To conduct a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial evaluating the impact of turmeric on basal joint arthritis.

Conditions

Thumb Osteoarthritis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in baseline pain intensity

  0-10 ordinal rating of pain intensity

  Enrollment, 6 weeks, and 3 months

• Change in baseline disability

  Disability measured by the QuickDASH

  Enrollment, 6 weeks, and 3 months

Study Arms (2)

Turmeric

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects in this group will receive turmeric (100 mg pastille) 3 times per day for 6 weeks.

Dietary Supplement: Turmeric

Control

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Subjects in this group will receive a placebo pill 3 times per day for 6 weeks.

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Turmeric DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Subjects will receive turmeric (100 mg pastille) 3 times per day for 6 weeks.

Turmeric

Placebo OTHER

Subjects in the control group will receive a placebo 3 times per day for 6 weeks.

Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years of age or older
• English fluency and literacy
• Seeking care for basal joint pain
• Tender over basal joint
• Positive distraction rotation test (rotation of the thumb metacarpal base while applying axial traction)
• Radiographic evidence of Eaton stage 1 and 2 only

You may not qualify if:

• Secondary gains (litigations or worker compensation) procedures that may interfere with patients' motivation for treatment
• Inability or unwillingness to participate in a trial study
• Rheumatoid Arthritis or other inflammatory disorder diagnoses
• Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
• Patients on Coumadin/Steroids/NSAIDs/Tylenol
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Basal joint arthritis of Eaton stage 3
• Patients seeking other treatment for their basal joint arthritis (splint, corticosteroid injection, surgery)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Massachusetts General Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Curcumin

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Diarylheptanoids; Heptanes; Alkanes; Hydrocarbons, Acyclic; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Catechols; Phenols; Benzene Derivatives; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic

Study Officials

• Neal Chen, MD

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Neal Chen, M.D.

CONTACT

617-726-4700; nchen1@mgh.harvard.edu

Karan Amin, BA

CONTACT

kamin2@mgh.harvard.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Medical Doctor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 7, 2016
• First Posted: January 11, 2017
• Study Start: August 9, 2017
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Last Updated: November 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

US (1)