Supplementary Material for: Clinical effects of oral supplementation of gamma-ciclodextrin curcumin complex in male patients with moderate-to-severe BPH-related Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in males. Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties which may be effective for BPH. This multi-arm observational study evaluated the real-world efficacy of QURMIN® (Gamma-cyclodextrin-curcumin Complex-CAVACURMIN®) as single or combination therapy for BPH.
Methods: Men with moderate-severe LUTS/BPH receiving a 6-month supplementation with QURMIN® alone or in combination with BPH-specific medication were propensity score matched with patients not taking curcumin and then divided into subgroups based on concomitant baseline treatment. Cohorts were compared in the 6-month variation of IPSS, quality of life (IPSS-QoL), Benign prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) and uroflowmetry parameters. Curcumin tolerability was evaluated in terms of discontinuations and adverse effects.
Results: The 1:1 propensity score matching resulted in a treatment-naïve (n=152), an alpha-blocker only(AB)(n=138) and a AB+5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) (n=78) subgroup. After 6 months, drug-naïve patients taking curcumin reported significant improvement in IPSS-storage (-3.9,p<0.001), IPSS-voiding(-2.0,p=0.011), IPSS-total(-5.9,p<0.001), IPSS-QoL(-3.9,p<0.001), BII(-2.0,p<0.001), Qmax(+3.1 ml/s,p<0.001), Qmean(+1.9 ml/s,p=0.005), PVR(-7.7 ml,p<0.001), and PSA(-0.3 ng/ml,p=0.003), compared to controls. Patients taking ABs and curcumin showed improvement in IPSS-storage(-2.7,p<0.001), IPSS-voiding(-1.3,p=0.033), IPSS-total(-3.5,p<0.001), IPSS-QoL(-1.1,p=0.004), BII(-1.7,p=0.006), Qmax(+1.0 ml/s,p=0.006) and PSA(-0.2 ng/ml,p=0.01). Patients taking curcumin and AB+5-ARI showed improvement in IPSS-storage(-1.3,p=0.007), IPSS-total(-1.6,p=0.034), IPSS-QoL(-1.1,p<0.001) and BII(-2.0,p<0.001). No adverse reactions were reported for curcumin supplementation.
Conclusion: QURMIN® (CAVACURMIN®) led to significant improvements in symptom burden, uroflow parameters and QoL, without significant additional side effects, thus proving to be a potential new treatment for BPH, either as a single therapy or in addition to standard treatment.