Curcumin plus piperine may improve sleep and mood in diabetic retinopathy
Last updated May 26, 2026
Key finding
In adults with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 12 weeks of curcumin plus piperine improved sleep quality and mood scores and produced small reductions in BMI and waist circumference versus placebo.
This 12-week randomized trial tested curcumin plus piperine in adults with diabetic retinopathy. Compared with placebo, the supplement improved sleep quality and reduced depression, anxiety, and stress scores. BMI and waist circumference also declined slightly, though the authors noted the size of anthropometric changes may be small clinically.
Quick read
Study at a glance
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Follow-up
Short-Term (≤3 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
Plain-language summary
What this paper says
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
In adults with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 12 weeks of curcumin plus piperine improved sleep quality and mood scores and produced small reductions in BMI and waist circumference versus placebo.
Published in
Journal Reference
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Amini S, Dehghani A, Sahebkar A, et al. The Effect of Curcumin Plus Piperine on Mental Health Status, Sleep Quality, and Anthropometric Indices in Patients with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. Int J Prev Med. 2026;17:14. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_276_23
Main Effects
Sleep quality score improved (PSQI ↓) versus placebo
Depression, anxiety, and stress scores improved versus placebo
BMI and waist circumference showed small favorable decreases
Evidence Suggest
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design supports internal validity.
- Intention-to-treat analysis included all 60 randomized participants.
- Anthropometric effects were statistically significant but small in magnitude.
Who this applies to
Adults aged 30-65 with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Keep in Mind
The trial duration was 12 weeks, so long-term effects are uncertain.
Between the Lines
- Small sample size
- Single-center trial
- Short follow-up duration
- Single dose tested without dose-response analysis
Evidence Library
Build your evidence library
Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.
No ads. No tracking.
Focused on evidence, not advertising.
Secure & private
Your data is always protected.
Always up to date
New studies added every day.