More research shows that Turmeric improves arthritis

  A low dose of a Turmeric complex has been found to help relive pain and increase mobility in patients with osteoarthritis. The study tested the impact of supplementation with Curcumin – Soy Phosphatidylcholine complex on patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) in the knees.

     A total of 50 people participated in the study, and were divided into two groups. Both groups received ‘the best available treatment’ for OA as defined by their doctor, but the second group also received supplementation with 1g of the supplement per day, which delivered 200mg Curcumin per day. At the start of the study and after three months of treatment, participants were made to walk on a treadmill at a speed of 3km/hr and an inclination of 10 per cent. The total distance that could be covered without pain was recorded. Symptoms of OA were also recorded using a questionnaire developed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC). In addition, C reactive protein (CRP) – a marker of inflammation – was evaluated by laser nephelometry.

     After three months of treatment, the group taking the Curcumin supplement showed a 58 per cent decrease in WOMAC score (decreased pain and discomfort), as well as a prolonged treadmill walking distance from 76 m to 332 m. Average CRP levels decreased from 168 to 11.3 mg/L in the subpopulation with high CRP. In comparison, the researchers said that the control group experienced “only a modest improvement in these parameters” (2% in the WOMAC score, from 82 m to 129 m in the treadmill test, and from 175 to 112 mg/L in the CRP plasma concentration). The study is published in Panminerva Medica 2010;52