Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Br J Nutr. 2012 Oct;108(7):1272-9. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511006544. Epub 2011 Nov 18.
Skin is among the first and most heavily damaged organs upon sulphur mustard (SM) exposure. Pruritus is the most common chronic skin complication of SM, which adversely affects the quality of life (QoL). However, current therapies for the management of SM-induced pruritus are very limited and associated with side effects. The present trial investigated the efficacy of curcumin in the alleviation of SM-induced chronic pruritic symptoms. A total of ninety-six male Iranian veterans (age 37-59 years) were randomised to receive either curcumin (1 g/d, n 46) or placebo (n 50) for 4 weeks. Serum concentrations of substance P and activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured at baseline and at the end of the trial. Assessment of pruritus severity was performed using the pruritus score, visual analogue scale (VAS) and scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. QoL was evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. Serum concentrations of substance P (P<0·001) as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (P=0·02), glutathione peroxidase (P=0·006) and catalase (P<0·001) were significantly reduced in the curcumin group, while no significant change was observed in the placebo group. Curcumin supplementation was also associated with significant reductions in measures of pruritus severity including the pruritus score (P<0·001), VAS score (P<0·001), overall (P<0·001) and objective SCORAD (P=0·009), and DLQI's first question (P<0·001). None of these measures was significantly changed in the placebo group. As for the QoL, although DLQI scores decreased in both groups (P<0·001 and P=0·003 in the curcumin and placebo groups, respectively), the magnitude of reduction was significantly greater in the curcumin group (P<0·001). In conclusion, curcumin may be regarded as a natural, safe, widely available and inexpensive treatment for the management of SM-induced chronic pruritus.
皮肤是芥子气（SM）暴露后第一个也是受损最严重的器官之一。瘙痒是 SM 最常见的慢性皮肤并发症，它会对生活质量（QoL）产生不利影响。然而，目前用于管理 SM 引起的瘙痒的治疗方法非常有限，并且存在副作用。本试验研究了姜黄素缓解 SM 引起的慢性瘙痒症状的疗效。共有 96 名伊朗男性退伍军人（年龄 37-59 岁）被随机分为接受姜黄素（1 g/d，n = 46）或安慰剂（n = 50）治疗 4 周。在基线和试验结束时测量血清中 P 物质的浓度和抗氧化酶的活性。使用瘙痒评分、视觉模拟量表（VAS）和特应性皮炎评分（SCORAD）指数评估瘙痒严重程度。使用皮肤病生活质量指数（DLQI）问卷评估生活质量。血清 P 物质浓度（P<0·001）以及超氧化物歧化酶（P=0·02）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（P=0·006）和过氧化氢酶（P<0·001）的活性在姜黄素组显著降低，而安慰剂组则没有显著变化。姜黄素补充剂也与瘙痒严重程度的显著降低有关，包括瘙痒评分（P<0·001）、VAS 评分（P<0·001）、总体（P<0·001）和客观 SCORAD（P=0·009）以及 DLQI 的第一个问题（P<0·001）。安慰剂组这些措施均无显著变化。至于生活质量，尽管两组的 DLQI 评分均降低（P<0·001 和 P=0·003 在姜黄素和安慰剂组），但姜黄素组的降幅更大（P<0·001）。总之，姜黄素可被视为一种天然、安全、广泛可用且廉价的 SM 诱导性慢性瘙痒治疗方法。
