A Pilot Study to Examine the Effects of an Anti-inflammatory Supplement on Eicosanoid Derivatives in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease with an inverse relationship between kidney function and levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Curcumin and Boswellia serrata have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects on the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to study the effects of a supplement containing curcumin and B. serrata on eicosanoid derivatives in early stage CKD patients who had not initiated hemodialysis. Methods: Sixteen patients with stage 2 and stage 3 CKD (56.0 +/- 16.0 years, 171.4 +/- 11.9 cm, 99.3 +/- 20.2 kg) were randomized into a treatment group with curcumin and B. serrata or a placebo group. The dependent variables prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), 5-hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid, 12-hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid, 15-hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid, and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid were measured both before and after 8 weeks of supplementation. Results were analyzed by using a repeated-measures analysis of covariance for compliance and body-mass index. Results: A significant group effect (p = 0.05), and a trend for Group u Time interaction (p = 0.056) were detected for PGE(2). No significant differences were observed for any other variables. Conclusions: This is the first article of baseline levels of the dependent variables in early stage CKD, and the first article to show a significant effect of these supplements on PGE(2) in early stage CKD. Further studies are needed to determine whether curcumin and B. serrata may be effective means to reduce inflammation in patients with CKD.