Turmeric and Curcumin Anti-inflammatory Effects

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Published: May 2, 2015
Last reviewed: January 3, 2018

What are turmeric and curcumin?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa or Curcuma domestica) is a plant native to South India; its root is used as a spice in curry powder and as a herb in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.

Curcumin is the turmeric ingredient, which chemically belongs to polyphenols, gives turmeric its yellow color and supposed healing properties.

Curcumin may help reduce swelling and pain in certain inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, but more research is warranted.

Curcumin Anti-inflammatory Effects

In several laboratory and animal studies (5,11,12) and in few human clinical trials (13), curcumin had anti-inflammatory effects. According to one review of laboratory studies, curcumin can inhibit substances involved in inflammation, such as lipoxygenase, leukotrienes, prostaglandins and interleukin-12 (IL-12) (5,6).

Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with joint inflammation. In one controlled clinical trial in 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin in an oral dose 1.2 g per day for 2 weeks was as effective in relieving morning stiffness and joint swelling as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone in a dose 300 mg per day and was more effective than a placebo (8).

Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Osteoarthritis is age-related wear-and-tear joint damage. According to Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, turmeric is possibly effective in reducing pain in osteoarthritis and may be as effective as ibuprofen (1). According to American Family Physician, there is insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of turmeric in the treatment of osteoarthritis (2).

In one 2010 controlled clinical trial lasting for 8 months in 50 individuals with osteoarthritis, oral curcumin-phosphatidylcholine supplements (~200 mg curcumin/day) in addition to regular drug treatment for osteoarthritis was associated with a greater decrease in joint pain, stiffness and swelling than in other 50 patients receiving only regular drug treatment without curcumin (14). NOTE: A manager and another employee from the supplement-producing company were involved in the study.

Psoriasis

In few human studies, treatment with curcumin ointments or oral drugs was associated with some improvement of psoriasis but larger studies are needed (9).

Mouth Inflammation (Oral Lichen Planus)

In one controlled clinical trial in 20 individuals with a chronic mouth inflammation (lichen planus), oral curcumin supplements in a dose 6 g per day for several months reduced symptoms of inflammation by 14-22% (16).

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

In few animal studies and one small uncontrolled human trial, curcumin supplements improved symptoms in individuals with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (9).

In one study, 43 patients with ulcerative colitis in an inactive phase were receiving curcumin supplements in a dose 2 g per day and an anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine or mesalazine for 6 months, and the control group (39 patients) was receiving only mesalazine. Within 6 months, 2 patients from the curcumin treatment group and 8 patients from the no-curcumin group had a relapse of colitis. This suggests that curcumin may help prevent a relapse of ulcerative colitis, but further studies are needed (18).

Kidney Inflammation (Lupus Nephritis)

In one 2012 controlled clinical trial in 12 patients with a chronic kidney inflammation (lupus nephritis), treatment with oral turmeric supplements (22 mg curcumin/day) for 3 months was associated with greater disease improvement (reduced protein and blood loss in urine) than treatment with placebo in other 12 patients (17).

Is turmeric good for swelling (edema)?

In rat and mice studies, oral curcumin in doses 20-200 mg/kg body weight decreased carrageenan-induced paw swelling (edema) by up to 50% — the effect was similar to treatment with corticosteroids (6).

In one controlled clinical trial in 40 men, curcumin in a dose 1.2 g per day by mouth for 5 days was as effective as phenylbutazone in a dose 300 mg per day and more effective than placebo in reducing edema, tenderness and pain after surgery of an inguinal hernia or hydrocele (8).

According to Ayurveda, turmeric applied on the skin can help reduce swelling and pain due to sprained joints (4), but there seem to be no studies published to confirm this.

Other inflammatory conditions

There is INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE of the effectiveness of curcumin in the prevention or treatment of bruising, chronic anterior uveitis (inflammation of the eye iris) (20), eye infections, fibromyalgia, inflammatory and itchy skin conditions (eczema, chicken pox, shingles, allergy, scabies, acne), leech bites, leprosy, liver inflammation (hepatitis), jaundice and other liver and gallbladder problems, sprains, ringworm and wound infections in humans (1,3).

Other Potential Health Benefits

There is INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE of the effectiveness of curcumin in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer disease, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headache, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual problems, stomach ulcers or tuberculosis or in promoting weight loss (1).

Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements

Turmeric root and curcumin supplements without prescription (over-the-counter) are available as:

  • Turmeric tablets or capsules
  • Turmeric essential oils (liquid extracts) for oral or topical use
  • Turmeric cream, paste or ointment
  • Curcumin tablets or capsules, sometimes in combination with piperine (usually 5 mg), phosphatidylcholine or bromelain
  • Curcumin cream

Piperine and phosphatidylcholine enhance curcumin absorption

Curcumin is poorly absorbed from the human intestine, especially when taken in doses lower than 4 g per day (8).

  • In one study, adding 20 mg of piperine to 2 g of curcumin, increased the bioavailability of curcumin by 2,000% (7).
  • According to one producer, phosphatidylcholine can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin by 20 times (14).

How much curcumin is in…?

Product

Curcumin (mg)

Turmeric powder spice (1 tsp, 7 g) ~140
Turmeric tea (1 cup, 237 mL) ~35
Turmeric supplements (1 tablet or capsule) 20-500
Curcumin supplements (1 tablet or capsule) 50-950
Supplements used in clinical trials for arthritis 200-2,000

In the United States, turmeric and curcumin supplements are not considered medicines, so they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means their ingredients, purity, safety and effectiveness are not evaluated.

Turmeric and Curcumin Safety and Side Effects

Supplements containing up to 8 g (8,000 mg) of curcumin per day have not been associated with toxicity in humans (8).

Minor side effects have included stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea and dizziness (8,1). Allergic reactions to curcumin are possible.

Other potential dangers and drug interactions (1,8):

  • Curcumin has been reported to increase gallbladder contractions in healthy people, so it could potentially increase pain in individuals with gallstones.
  • Turmeric and curcumin supplements may slow down blood clotting so they may increase the risk of bleeding when used along with blood thinners.
  • Curcumin may lower blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes.
  • Curcumin may decrease testosterone levels in men and thus increase the risk of infertility.

During Pregnancy

According to some authors, turmeric may increase the risk of abortion (10).

Turmeric may also increase menstrual bleeding (10).

  • References

      1. Turmeric  WebMD
      2. Dietary supplements for osteoarthritis American Family Physician
      3. Turmeric, the golden healer  Healthy.net
      4. Sprains – Useful Herbs and Ayurvedic Treatments  Ayushveda
      5. Chainani-Wu N, 2003, Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa)  PubMed
      6. Jurenka JS, 2009, Anti-inflammatory Properties of Curcumin, a Major Constituent of Curcuma longa: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Research  Alternative Medicine Review
      7. Shoba G et al, 1998, Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers  PubMed
      8. Curcumin  Linus Pauling Institute
      9. Aggarwal BB et al, 2008, Potential Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin, the Anti-inflammatory Agent, Against Neurodegenerative, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Metabolic, Autoimmune and Neoplastic Diseases  PubMed Central
      10. Turmeric  Drugs.com
      11. Ramadan G et al, 2011, Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Curcuma longa (turmeric) versus Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizomes in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis  PubMed
      12. Turmeric, the golden spice  National Institute of Health
      13. Gupta SC et al, 20113, Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials  PubMed Central
      14. Henrotin Y et al, 2013, Curcumin: a new paradigm and therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of osteoarthritis: curcumin for osteoarthritis management  PubMed Central
      15. Belcaro G et al, 2010, Efficacy and safety of Meriva ©, curcumin-phosphatydilcholine complex during extended administration in osteoarthritis patients Alternative Medicine Review
      16. Chainani-Wu N et al, 2012, High-dose curcuminoids are efficacious in the reduction in symptoms and signs of oral lichen planus  PubMed
      17. Khajehdehi P et al, 2012, Oral supplementation of turmeric decreases proteinuria, hematuria, and systolic blood pressure in patients suffering from relapsing or refractory lupus nephritis: a randomized and placebo-controlled study  PubMed
      18. Hanai H et al, 2006, Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
        PubMed
      19. Anderson AM et al, 2000, Isolation of Curcumin from Turmeric  ACS Publications
      20. Allegri P et al, 2010, Management of chronic anterior uveitis relapses: efficacy of oral phospholipidic curcumin treatment. Long-term follow-up  PubMed Central

4 Responses to Turmeric and Curcumin Anti-inflammatory Effects

  1. Ziva p. says:

    Stabbing, burning and spasm under right shoulder blade, radiating through right arm and stiff neck. therapist felt some knots around that area.My joint docter diagnosed from an x-ray, inflammation and arthritis in the spine. still in agony after weeks of therapy, massage and accupuncture.

    • Jan Modric says:

      Ziva, if it is arthritis, you may need treatment with antiinflammatory drugs by rheumatologist or orthopedist. Pain in the arm speaks for a pinched nerve in your neck spine.

  2. Dr. Nagendra Sohani says:

    MY Father is suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. is there any alternate treatment available

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