Arthritis :: Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis

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Arthritis :: Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis

More than 40 percent of arthritis sufferers in the U.S. report using

complementary and alternative medicine, including dietary

supplements, and the use of alternative remedies has increased since

the FDA issued health warnings about anti-inflammatory drugs such as

Celebrex. However, the effectiveness of many supplement ingredients

has not been adequately studied. To complicate the matter, over-the-

counter supplements are not regulated in the same way as drugs and

their composition can vary widely. A new study published in the

November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism examined the effect and

mechanism of turmeric (a botanical supplement long thought to have

anti-inflammatory properties) on arthritis.

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Led Janet L. Funk and Barbara N. Timmermann (currently at the

University of Kansas), researchers at the University of Arizona in

Tucson, AZ had already shown in an earlier study that turmeric can

prevent joint inflammation in rats. In the current study, they

expanded their research to compare the chemical composition of an

experimental turmeric extract with those of commercially available

over the counter turmeric dietary supplements. They also examined the

dosage of the experimental version on joint inflammation and

destruction, determined its effect on inflammation markers, and

ascertained the mechanism by which turmeric protects joints in

arthritis.

Initial results showed that a version of turmeric extract that was

free of essential oils had a significant impact on arthritis and most

closely matched the composition of commercially available

supplements. This version was used in subsequent experiments and was

shown to prevent acute and chronic arthritis, even when it was

administered after arthritis had been induced. In addition, turmeric

significantly inhibited joint destruction due to arthritis, and

inhibited NF-ï«B, a protein that controls the gene expression of

substances that produce an inflammatory response. Turmeric also

altered the expression of hundreds of genes involved in joint

swelling and destruction and prevented an increase in osteoclasts

(cells that break down bone) in joints.

The current research, which was funded by the Office of Dietary

Supplements and National Center for Complementary and Alternative

Medicine of the National Institutes of Healthis the first study to

document the composition of a turmeric-containing compound that is

similar to commercially available products and to document the

mechanisms by which it reduces the effects of arthritis. The authors

were able to find an effective dose in rats that would be equivalent

in humans to 1.5 milligrams per day of a portion of the turmeric root

that makes up 3% of dried turmeric powder. The inhibition of NF-ï«B

and of key inflammatory genes directly or indirectly activated by NF-

ï«B suggests that inhibition of this protein may be an important

mechanism in turmeric's anti-arthritic effects. In fact, the authors

state that " it would appear that turmeric dietary supplements share

the same mechanism of action as antiarthritic pharmaceuticals

currently under development that target NF-ï«B. " It is also possible

that turmeric blocks other inflammatory pathways, given its chemical

complexity. Turmeric seems to block early inflammatory responses, as

evidenced by the fact that it was effective when started 3 days but

not 8 days after arthritis was induced, the authors note.

" In summary, " the authors state, " just as the willow bark provided

relief for arthritis patients before the advent of aspirin, it would

appear that the underground stem (rhizome) of a tropical plant

[turmeric] may also hold promise for the treatment of joint

inflammation and destruction. " They note that the anti-inflammatory

effects of botanicals can only be utilized if their chemical content

is analyzed. The authors conclude: " Finally, before turmeric

supplements can be recommended for medicinal use, clinical trials are

clearly needed to verify/determine whether treatment with adequate

doses of well-characterized turmeric extracts can indeed prevent/

suppress disease flares in RA [rheumatoid arthritis] patients, as

well as to explore any potential benefits of turmeric dietary

supplements in the prevention or treatment of more common forms of

arthritis in the general population. "

http://www.spiritindia.com/health-care-news-article-3098.html