Turmeric Supplements Shown To Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares

As I last blogged, Turmeric has been used for centuries for treatment of inflammatory disorders. It seems as if it is a too good to be true cure all for numerous ailments though, as there is not much information regarding its true efficiency. The research article entitled "Turmeric Extracts Containing Curcumoids Prevent Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis" sheds new light on turmeric stating that it does have an antiarthritic effect in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). However, do not bother reading the article for yourself because it is actually quite difficult to decipher from which turmeric extract they are speaking of through out the article's entirety. So I will just give you the condensed version!
The curcuminoids extracted from turmeric are believed to inhibit the production of the cytokines TNF-alpha, and IL-1B along with PGE2. They are thought to be inhibitors of transcription factor activation such as the activation of NF-kB. If this is activated during a bout of inflammation it will inevitably lead to increased expression of cytokines, chemokines, and COX-2 (inflammatory protein), which are the mediators of joint inflammation in RA. Random over the counter supplements of turmeric were chosen and then tested to find that the majority of them were actually composed of less than 50% curcuminoids. The researchers prepared and chemically characterized a complex turmeric extract depleted in essential oils and composed of less than 50% curcuminoids, isolating it from a commercial source of turmeric rhizome, and then tested it for the in vitro antiinflammatory efficiency along with its in vivo antiarthritic efficiency. The efficiency of this oil-depleted turmeric fraction was then compared with commercial curcumin product (which have greater than 90% curcuminoids). The animal model used in the experiment was a streptococcal cell wall (SCW) induced arthritis, which is the animal model for rheumatoid arthritis. Over a 28 day time course, female Lewis rats having SCW developed an acute phase of joint swelling to be followed by a chronic phase of inflammation that was characteristic of actual joint destruction.
The oil-depleted turmeric extract (40.6% curcuminoid by weight) was administered intraperitoneally daily starting 4 days before the SCW administration. This was shown to significantly inhibit joint inflammation in the acute inflammatory phase by 64% and the chronic destructive phase of arthritis was inhibited 72%. Alternatively, if treatment was administered after the acute phase but before the start of the chronic phase, the same dose did not have any effect on joint swelling. Also, as would be expected, four days before administering SCW treatment with a lower dose of the turmeric fraction showed no effect on joint swelling.
In contrast to how ineffective a low dose of turmeric fraction was on joint swelling, administration with the same lose does of purified curcuminoids (93.6% curcuminoid by weight) starting four days prior to SCW administration significantly inhibited joint inflammation in both acute and chronic phases of arthritis (75% and 68% inhibition). The turmeric fraction dose had to be increased by six-fold in order to have these same effects. The remaining components of the turmeric fraction , besides the three major curcuminoids, may actually be preventing the antiarthritic effect of the curcuminoids.
A granulomatous inflammatory response occurs in the liver and spleen of the rats at the sites of SCW deposition. A high does of turmeric fraction prevented hepatic granulomas. A low dose of purified curcuminoids had no effect on the formation of granuloma formation. The fact that a high dose of the turmeric fraction inhibited granuloma formation most like indicates that a higher dosage of curcuminoids is necessary to induce an antiinflammatory effect.
Essentially this study provides evidence that turmeric may actually be a legitimate antiinflammatory agent. Turmeric products seem to be useful only for the prevention of arthritis but not for treatment during active inflammation. I will be interested to see in the next couple of years what further research states about turmeric. But what do you think...do you guys believe that this is enough evidence for further clinical testing of curcuminoids from turmeric supplements for inhibiting RA flares?



Turmeric Extracts Containing Curcuminoids Prevent Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis
Janet L. Funk, Janice N. Oyarzo, Jennifer B. Frye, et al.