When you see yellow rice or sauces in Indian dishes, the dish probably contains turmeric. This spice is found in the dried bulb of the turmeric plant. Scientists are interested in the turmeric plant because it contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that curcumin may be a more powerful antioxidant than vitamins C or E. As persuasive as this research may be, it has no bearing on diseases such as hepatitis C, which are caused by viruses.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is caused by the HCV virus. Like other other types of hepatitis, it is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, semen and milk from nursing mothers. Most cases are bloodborne, either from intravenous drug use, dialysis before 1989 or organ transplant. Sexual transmission is rare, and transmission through breast milk is rarer still. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that hepatitis C virus is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the U.S.
Symptoms and Treatment
Hepatitis C may go undetected for decades in some people. Once it starts to be symptomatic, the symptoms can be serious, including liver cancer and cirrhosis. In 2009, "Hepatology" reported that the risk of developing cirrhosis ranges from 5 to 25 percent over periods of 25 to 30 years. Treating hepatitis C involves administering the anti-viral medication ribavirin and the immunomodulator pegylated interferon alfa. These drugs are taken for approximately one year.
Research
There is no credible evidence that turmeric has any benefit in the prevention or treatment hepatitis C in humans. As of the date of publication, there are only a few research papers on turmeric and hepatitis, and only one paper on turmeric and hepatitis C. The February 2010 "FEBS Letters" journal included a study that showed curcumin suppressed HCV replication in a test tube. This work needs to be replicated and followed up with animal studies and human clinical studies before the benefits of turmeric are known.
Warning
Hepatitis C is a serious disease that is best treated with conventional medicine. While substances such as turmeric may have some benefit, do not trust your health to unproven remedies. Ask your doctor before taking any kind of supplement, especially if you have a chronic illness such as hepatitis C.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Turmeric
- "FEBS Letter"; Curcumin Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Replication via Suppressing the Akt-SREBP-1 Pathway; K. Kim, et al.; February 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Hepatitis C Information for Health Professionals; March 2011
- "Hepatology"; Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Hepatitis C: An Update; Marc G. Ghany, et al.; 2009
