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NCT Number: NCT03017118

Turmeric for Patients With Basal Joint Arthritis

The aim of this study is to assess whether the use of a commercially available nutraceutical, turmeric, is an effective option to manage pain and stiffness in patients with basal joint arthritis. To conduct a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial evaluating the impact of turmeric on basal joint arthritis.

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

Thumb Osteoarthritis

Age range

40 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 40 years of age or older
  • English fluency and literacy
  • Seeking care for basal joint pain
  • Tender over basal joint
  • Positive distraction rotation test (rotation of the thumb metacarpal base while applying axial traction)
  • Radiographic evidence of Eaton stage 1 and 2 only

Exclusion criteria

  • Secondary gains (litigations or worker compensation) procedures that may interfere with patients' motivation for treatment
  • Inability or unwillingness to participate in a trial study
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis or other inflammatory disorder diagnoses
  • Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
  • Patients on Coumadin/Steroids/NSAIDs/Tylenol
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Pregnant or lactating women
  • Basal joint arthritis of Eaton stage 3
  • Patients seeking other treatment for their basal joint arthritis (splint, corticosteroid injection, surgery)

Treatment and study plan

Turmeric

Dietary Supplement

Subjects will receive turmeric (100 mg pastille) 3 times per day for 6 weeks.

Placebo

Other

Subjects in the control group will receive a placebo 3 times per day for 6 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in baseline pain intensity

    Time frame: Enrollment, 6 weeks, and 3 months

    0-10 ordinal rating of pain intensity

  2. Change in baseline disability

    Time frame: Enrollment, 6 weeks, and 3 months

    Disability measured by the QuickDASH

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Karan Amin, BA

CONTACT

[email protected]

Neal Chen, M.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

617-726-4700

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized Controlled Trial Using Turmeric for Patients With Basal Joint Arthritis

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jan 11, 2017
Registry last updated
Nov 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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