Lee Swanson Research Update

Turmeric Shows Strength in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis

May 2010

Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disorder, is a common cause of pain and disability for both men and women. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common form of treatment for relieving pain associated with OA, but they can cause serious adverse side effects that impact gastrointestinal, renal and cardiac health. Now it appears that curcumin, present in turmeric extracts, may also offer relief.

Researchers from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand conducted a study to determine the efficacy and safety of a turmeric extract in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee OA. The researchers said: "The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis."

Conducted at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, the study included adult subjects who had primary knee OA, according to the American Rheumatism Association criteria. To be included in the study, patients had to have knee pain and radiographic osteophytes, as well as at least one of the following characteristics: being older than 50 years of age, suffering from morning joint stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes, and/or experiencing crepitus (crackling in joints) on motion. Patients reporting a pain score of 5 of 10 in a numerical rating scale were recruited.

All patients were randomly allocated to receive either ibuprofen (400 mg twice daily) or turmeric extract (500 mg curcuminoids four times daily) for six weeks. The patients were assessed every two weeks. The main outcomes were pain on level walking and pain on stair climbing, measured by a numerical rating scale, as well as knee functions assessed by the time spent on a 100-meter walk and going up and down 10 steps.

Of 190 patients screened, 107 were selected for the study; 52 were randomly assigned to the curcuminoid group and 55 to the ibuprofen group. Of those, 45 patients in the curcuminoids group and 46 patients in the ibuprofen group completed the study. Most of the patients were overweight elderly women.

At baseline, the mean pain scores on level walking and on the stairs, as well as the time spent on the 100- meter walk and on the flight of stairs, were similar between the two groups.

The researchers report that the mean scores of all outcomes in both groups at week six were significantly improved when compared with the baseline values. For example, from week zero to week six, the scores of pain on level walking dropped from 5.3 (+/-) 2.3 to 2.7 (+/-) 2.5 for the curcumin group and from 5.0 (+/-) 1.9 to 3.1 (+/-) 2.3 in the ibuprofen group. There was no significant difference in those parameters between the two groups, except that pain on stair climbing was less for those taking curcuminoids. Also, the curcuminoids group seemed to spend less time on the 100-meter walk and going up and down a flight of stairs. No significant differences were found in adverse events between the two groups.

Most patients rated themselves as having moderate to high satisfaction (91.1% in the curcuminoids group, 80.4% in the ibuprofen group).

The researchers concluded that curcumin extracts "seem to be similarly efficacious and safe as ibuprofen for the treatment of knee OA."

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 15(8):891-897, 2009

 

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