Curcumin Relieves Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
A study published in the journal Alternative Medicine Review sought to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent. The study included 100 patients with osteoarthritis who received either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs alone or a supplement containing 20 percent natural curcuminoid mixture, 40 percent phosphatidylcholine, and 40 percent microcrystalline cellulose plus NSAIDs. Researchers followed the participants for eight months and found changes in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score, used to measure the osteoarthritis variables, decreased from 80.6 to 33.2 in patients receiving NSAIDs plus the curcumin supplement. Researchers also reported that WOMAC scores for pain decreased by 9.3 points, while no change was observed in the control group. Stiffness decreased from 7.4 to 3.2, with no significant changes in the control group. These findings suggest that curcumin may be a beneficial long-term therapy approach for people suffering with osteoarthritis.