Curcumin-containing formula changed a blood marker before cancer surgery
A small pilot trial found lower preoperative inflammation-marker levels and greater weight gain, without significant differences in postoperative clinical outcomes.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The experimental formula lowered a preoperative inflammation marker and increased body weight more than the standard formula. However, the trial found no statistically significant differences in complications after surgery, hospital stay, readmission or death. The results concern a combined nutritional formula in patients at nutritional risk, so they do not isolate curcumin's contribution.
This pilot enrolled few patients, and the abstract gives no confidence intervals. Its nonsignificant clinical results cannot rule out differences in postoperative outcomes.
What researchers found
Preoperative body-weight gain
Curcumin-containing formula versus standard formula after 10–14 days of preoperative use; p = 0.041.
What the trial tested
Patients received either the experimental formula or a standard formula before surgery. Researchers measured inflammatory blood markers at several stages and also tracked nutritional measures, postoperative complications, hospital use and acceptance of the formulas.
Markers and recovery differ
Lower inflammation-marker levels before surgery do not themselves show better surgical recovery. The abstract reports high acceptance and few gastrointestinal adverse events, while the measured postoperative clinical outcomes did not differ significantly.
The original publication
Novel immune-modulating formula versus standard formula for gastrointestinal cancer patients at risk of malnutrition undergoing surgery: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Lakananurak N, Laosuwan P, Vongwattanakit P et al.
Clin Nutr ESPEN · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41525872
- Record checked
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