Topical Turmeric Ointment in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Diabetic foot is a serious complication of diabetes which has significant medical and socioeconomic impacts. Turmeric is a popular Indian spice that has been used for centuries in herbal medicines for the treatment of a variety of ailments such as rheumatism, diabetic ulcers, anorexia, cough and sinusitis. Curcumin is the main ingredient presents in turmeric and responsible for its yellow color. We report here a randomized, placebo-controlled investigation into the effectiveness of topical turmeric ointment in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Seventy-six patients enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups, one of which received topical turmeric ointment and the other received placebo. Preparations were applied twice daily after irrigation of the wound by normal saline and dressed. Image analysis software was used to evaluate photographs of the ulcers and quantify the difference between treatment and placebo groups. Topical turmeric ointment demonstrated statistically significant reduction (p < .001) in the size of diabetic ulcers at five weeks compared to placebo, independently of fasting blood sugar and HbA1C levels. Turmeric ointment may be an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers.