effect of curcumin supplementation on indoxyl sulfate and inflammation in cats with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (ckd) is a progressive disorder in cats in which inflammation plays a pivotal role. increased levels of indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin, contribute to disease progression. curcumin is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory properties and potential effects on indoxyl sulfate levels. this study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral curcumin supplementation in addition to standard therapy on renal function and inflammatory markers in cats with stage iii ckd.a total of 24 client-owned cats were included: 16 cats with stage iii ckd and 8 healthy controls. ckd cats were randomized into two groups: standard therapy only (st; n=8) and standard therapy plus curcumin (st + c; n=8). curcumin was administered orally at 80 mg/cat/day, divided into two doses, for 30 days. hematological and biochemical analyses were performed at baseline (t0), day 15 (t15), and day 30 (t30).there were no significant differences between the groups in blood urea nitrogen (bun), creatinine, and phosphorus concentrations (p > 0.05). indoxyl sulfate levels showed a numerical decrease in the st + c group, but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (nlr) and systemic inflammation response index (siri), declined in the st + c group beginning at t15 and remained lower than baseline values at t30 (p < 0.05). curcumin supplementation reduced inflammatory markers in cats with stage iii ckd, supporting its potential role as an adjunct therapeutic option. however, the effect on indoxyl sulfate should be confirmed in longer-term studies with larger sample sizes.