Learn more about how curcumin, a chemical in the spice turmeric, may help reduce arthritis symptoms. Get involved with the arthritis community. The 4,year-old staple of Southeast Asian cooking is showing up everywhere, including ballpark snacks and Starbucks lattes.
But does adding turmeric to your latte or plate of chicken masala do these things? Ground turmeric has other strikes against it. Some additives, like vibrantly yellow lead chromate, are toxic. In the last few years, 13 brands of turmeric have been recalled for lead contamination. How Curcumin Works Curcumin seems to target specific molecules or pathways that control the cell cycle.
It also blocks inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, including cyclooxygenase-2 COX-2 , the target of the pain reliever celecoxib Celebrex. For example, a review of 15 randomized controlled trials found curcumin relieved OA pain and stiffness as well or better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories NSAIDs like ibuprofen and celecoxib — minus potentially serious side effects.
Doses ranged from 40 mg of a highly bioavailable form of curcumin to 1, mg. Other research suggests that low doses of curcumin may help restore a normal balance between T cells that cause inflammation Th17 cells and those that protect against it regulatory T cells. An imbalance in these cells is believed to drive lupus , rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
In one small randomized controlled trial, twice daily doses of either or mg of curcumin were compared to placebo. Both doses significantly outperformed placebo on all measures. They reduced disease activity and significantly lowered inflammation markers and rheumatoid factor RF values.
