Lee Swanson Research Update

Turmeric may Improve Cystic Fibrosis

July 2004

Curcumin, a major constituent of the spice turmeric, may help correct cystic fibrosis (CF) defects, according to researchers at Yale University School of Medicine. The study was published in the April 23 issue of Science.

In most common forms of CF, a responsible protein (CFTR) is trapped inside the cells of the airways and gastrointestinal tract, inhibiting normal secretion of ions and fluid that eventually can lead to a build-up of mucous clogs in the lungs and pancreas.

In the study, scientists found 45 mg of curcumin a day per kg of body weight, administered to mice with CF helped release the protein from the cells. The treatment was either given once per day, or as a divided dose administered three times per day.

After having received curcumin treatment, mice with the genetic defect that causes CF survived at a rate almost equal to normal mice. The CFTR protein also functioned normally in the cells lining the nose and rectum, which are areas of the body affected by CF.

Plans for a human clinical trial using curcumin are underway, which will be carried out under the auspices of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. In the next phase of research, scientists will work to determine precisely how curcumin is achieving the positive effects and how to optimize curcumin’s potential as a possible treatment.

Science304(5670):600-6002, 2004

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