ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Free access

Esperienze Dermatologiche 2019 December;21(2-4):42-6

DOI: 10.23736/S1128-9155.19.00486-2

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Oral curcumin (Meriva®) reduces symptoms and recurrence rates in subjects with atopic dermatitis

Stefano TOGNI ¹ ✉, Antonella RIVA ¹, Giada MARAMALDI ¹, Maria R. CESARONE ², Gianni BELCARO ²

¹ Indena S.p.A., Milan, Italy; ² IRVINE3 Vascular Lab, Chieti-Pescara University, Pescara, Italy

BACKGROUND: Meriva® is a phytosome-based delivery form of curcumin that has shown multiple beneficial effects in various conditions including psoriasis. In this study we evaluated the effects of Meriva® on the symptoms and reoccurrence rate of atopic dermatitis (AD).
METHODS: Patients affected by AD (N.=42) freely decided to follow either a standard management (SM) protocol, consisting in the application of moisturizers and ceramide creams (N.=22) or SM in association with Meriva® (N.=20). During the study we evaluated the main clinical symptoms of AD (pruritus, eczema, dryness, loss of sensitivity and edema), AD recurrence rates, and additional skin variables such as oxidative stress, oxygenation, blood flow, increase in temperature, water and oil content, hydration and elasticity.
RESULTS: After 90 days, patients in the SM + Meriva® group benefited from a more consistent reduction in the severity of the main clinical manifestations of AD, in the occurrence of skin breaks (from 100% to 63.6%) and in the use of topical corticosteroids (from 100% to 20%). Patients treated with Meriva® also reported a greater reduction in oxidative stress, improvement in skin oxygenation and flux, and improvement of skin properties such as oil and water content, hydration and elasticity.
CONCLUSIONS: This registry study suggests that Meriva®, thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and reparative action, may be effective as adjuvant management in reducing clinical signs of AD and decreasing the risk of recurrence.

KEY WORDS: Dermatitis, atopic; Signs and symptoms; Recurrence; Oxidative stress