Inflammation has been linked to a number of health conditions, including arthritis, heart disease and diseases of the intestinal tract. Curcumin, derived from the spice turmeric, is a potent remedy that can be used to treat inflammatory diseases.
History
Turmeric is a spice commonly used in South Asian cooking. It has also been used for centuries in Asian medicine for gastrointestinal illnesses, according to the National Institutes of Health. The major component of turmeric that acts as an anti-inflammatory is curcumin, and in recent years many isolated curcumin extracts have come on the market.
Activity in the Body
According to a review published in the Spanish journal Nutrición Hospitalaria, curcumin inhibits the production of various inflammatory chemicals, including cyclo-oxygenase-2, lipoxygenase, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8. A study published in 2009 in the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences found that oral curcumin could suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines such as matrix metalloproteinase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-1, both of which are implicated in rheumatoid arthritis.
Research on Arthritis
A 2006 study published in the Journal of Natural Products found that curcumin extracts could prevent the onset of joint inflammation, a main problem in arthritis. This study was supported by research published in the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences in 2009 that found that not only did curcumin reduce inflammation, it also suppressed arthritis. Other studies of curcumin's effectiveness for arthritis are ongoing.
Other Inflammatory Conditions
A 2005 pilot study in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences found that curcumin shows promise for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Further, a 2006 placebo-controlled study published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology showed that curcumin was effective in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis, a disease with an important inflammatory component.
A clinical study published in the American Journal of Physiology in 2007 found that curcumin reduced markers of inflammation in mice after exercises that normally caused inflammation and muscle damage.
A number of additional clinical and in vitro studies are underway to examine curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects.
How to Use
Supplements ranging from 450 mg to 2,500 mg have been given in clinical trials, according to a paper published in 2003 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Suggested dosing will depend on your particular health condition, and you should consult your health-care practitioner for advice on your situation.
Considerations
Curcumin is considered to be quite safe, even at doses up to 8,000 mg per day, according to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. But the National Institutes of Health cautions that there are potential risks when taking larger doses of the spice turmeric, which is the source of curcumin. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before beginning any treatment if you have a chronic health concern.
References
- "American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology"; Curcumin Effects on Inflammation and Performance Recovery Following Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage; J. M. Davis et al.; June 2007
- "Digestive Diseases and Sciences"; Curcumin Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a Pilot Study; P. R. Holt et al.; November 2005
- "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology"; Curcumin Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial; Hiroyuki Hanai et al.; December 2006
- National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus: Turmeric and Curcumin
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