Turmeric (Curcuma longa), native to Asia, is an ancient Ayurvedic medicine for rheumatoid arthritis. Turmeric. Turmeric root extracts are anti-inflammatory and is what causes curry mixtures to be yellow. Dietary turmeric in some countries is sometimes as much as 2.5 gm./day and this would supply curcumin at 100 mg./day. Curcumin is a medicinally active chemical in turmeric.

The authors studied rats with a model of inflammatory arthritis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis. Before the arthritis was induced in the rats, some were pre-treated with a turmeric extract containing curcumin similar to what is commercially available. A dose of 4 mg. for each kg. of rat weight was given daily. This dose of curcuminoids significantly reduced the inflammation of the rheumatoid arthritis when the treated rats were compared to rats with rheumatoid arthritis that were not pretreated with turmeric extract. The turmeric extract was not successful in preventing the development of arthritis after the onset of joint inflammation.

CONCLUSION: The data “supports the possible use of curcuminoid-containing dietary supplements for arthritis prevention.” About 1 gm. curcuminoids per day is the suggested dose for a 150 lb. person. Piperine, a black pepper extract, is a supplement that increases curcumin absorption by 50%.

NOTE: Read about the bioavailability of turmeric and curcumin.

PMID: 16562833.

Summary #078.