A new Australian study about the effectiveness of Curcuma longa (CL), commonly known as turmeric, for treating the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis has received international attention.
The study from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania was published in the American College of Physicians journal .
''The study found that there was modest effect in pain relief among the patients'', says Dr Benny Antony the principal investigator of the study at UTAS.
As there is no cure for osteoarthritis, the modest effect in relieving pain using enhanced turmeric extract may be of clinical importance, he says.
Though the study found that the treatment reduced pain, there was no difference in the structural measures of progression of osteoarthritis measured using MRI, Dr Antony said.
Source: Getty Images/Peter Dazeley
Apart from the findings on symptoms, the use of MRI and ultrasound to measure structural aspects of osteoarthritis created interest in the medical field, Dr Antony added.
The 12-week-long study was conducted in 70 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study found that those in the group taking turmeric also took fewer pain killers than those in the placebo group.
Due to the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of curcumin, turmeric has been a subject of great interest in the scientific world.
But there are that question many claims that are attributed to turmeric in treating some conditions, especially in its natural form.
UTAS- Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchBenny Antony 18/07/2017Hobart Tasmania photography - Peter Mathew Source: Dr Benny Antony
These studies do not back many 'super herb' qualities attributed to turmeric and its potential to become an effective drug for many diseases.
Centuries-old traditional medicine
Turmeric has been in use for centuries in Ayurveda and many other traditional treatment methods.
Ayurvedic medicine has documented the benefits of turmeric for several medical conditions.
Its immune-boosting and cleansing qualities have made turmeric a prominent part of the daily diet in India and several other south-east Asian countries.
Over the years, modern studies have also found evidence to support some of the benefits of turmeric in treating various conditions.
There is also a growing trend of using turmeric powder in different ways, including in milkshakes and salads.
Source: Getty Images
The pain relief benefit expected from medicines prepared from enhanced turmeric extracts may not be achievable when consumed as the 'golden spice' that we generally know turmeric as, says Dr Antony.
There is no enough evidence, yet, whether turmeric powder widely used in culinary preparations, when made part of a regular diet could have long term benefits, Dr Antony said.
"This is due to the poor bio-absorption of curcumin in the human body when consumed orally as turmeric powder and also due to the very low percentage of curcumin in turmeric in its raw form," he added.
''For this reason, 20 per cent bio-enhanced curcuminoids and 80 per cent polysaccharide-rich component were used in our study, Dr Antony said.
Dr Antony recommends checking with an expert before considering turmeric extracts for pain relief though it is considered safe in small doses and usually seen as an over the counter medication.
''The moderate effect we found in our trial from a short-term study is reassuring for turmeric as a treatment option. However, there are no long-term studies that explored the efficacy and safety of turmeric extracts for the treatment of osteoarthritis,'' he said.
Disclaimer: This is a report about a recent study and not medical advice. For doubts about a medical condition please consult your doctor.
