Must be rheumatoid.
Curcumin Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an Indian spice that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for inflammatory problems. Curcumin, the yellow pigment derived from turmeric is known to have anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant effects. Now for the first time, research reports that curcumin can help prevent rheumatoid arthritis.
The study, published in Arthritis and Rheumatism, investigated curcumin’s effects using an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the Arizona Center for Phytomedicine Research isolated a whole extract of turmeric root, the essential oils contained in turmeric, and an oil-depleted extract containing curcuminoids. They injected the preparations into female rats with streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis.
The researchers found that the cucuminoid preparation significantly inhibited joint inflammation and destruction. Further analysis revealed that the cucuminoid preparation inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-KB). NF-KB produces inflammatory proteins that destroy joint tissue, such as in rheumatoid arthritis. This result suggests that turmeric has a similar mechanism of action as some arthritis drugs.
“These translational studies demonstrate in vivo efficacy and identify a mechanism of action for a well-characterized turmeric extract that supports further clinical evaluation of turmeric dietary supplements in the treatment of RA,” the study authors write.
REFERENCES:
1. Funk JL et al. Efficacy and mechanism of action of turmeric supplements in the treatment of experimental arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2006 Nov;54(11):3452-64.