Turmeric Supplements May Treat Arthritis
Turmeric is a spice that features a lot in Asian, particularly Indian, cuisine. But aside from its use in flavoring food, it is also widely sold as a dietary supplement supposedly to treat a wide variety of ailments, including arthiritis.
However, nobody knows whether they are really effective, and what dosage is necessary.
Researchers from the University of Arizona set out to determine whether (and how) turmeric works as an anti-arthritic using animal models.
Dr. Funk and her colleagues then tested in animal models a whole extract of turmeric root, only the essential oils, and an oil-depleted extract containing the three major curcuminoids found in the rhizome. Of the three extracts, the one containing the major curcuminoids was most similar in chemical composition to commercially available turmeric dietary supplements. It also was the most effective, completely inhibiting the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.
How does turmeric work?
The researchers found that the curcuminoid extract inhibits a transcription factor called NF-KB from being activated in the joint. A transcription factor is a protein that controls when genes are switched on or off. Once the transcription factor NF-KB is activated, or turned on, it binds to genes and enhances production of inflammatory proteins, destructive to the joint.
Based on this, the researchers say that it appear that turmeric works in the same way as other anti-arthritic pharmaceuticals currently being developed, which target NF-KB.
What about the dosage?
Extrapolated from the data from the animal trials, the effective dose seems to be the equivalent in humans of 1.5 milligrams per day of a portion of the turmeric root that makes up 3% of dried turmeric powder.
Naturally, these will all have to be verified in human clinical trials, before turmeric supplements can be recommended as an alternative therapy and possibly preventative strategy against rheumatoid arthritis. But, at least, this is promising, and an indication that not all alternative treaments are bogus.
The results of the abovementioned study will be published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (DOI: 10.1002/art.22180). for an overview, here are the press releases from EurekAlert:
Turmeric prevents experimental rheumatoid arthritis, bone loss, University of Arizona study shows
Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis
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POSTED IN: ~Anti-Inflammatory, ~Dietary Supplements, ~Muscles and Bones, ~Spices, Herbs and Condiments
1 opinion for Turmeric Supplements May Treat Arthritis
Friday Food Fables (Nov 3 06) « Lab Cat
Nov 3, 2006 at 8:08 am
[…] Tumeric may help with arthritis. The Beeb and Eating Fabulous both report… Mmmm, I’m going to have curry tonight. […]
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