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More than 40 percent of those afflicted with arthritis in the United States now use complementary and alternative medicine to ease pain and swelling. These include dietary supplements.
The use of alternative remedies has increased since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued health warnings about anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs were linked to cardiovascular events that even resulted in death.
However, the effectiveness of many supplement ingredients has not been adequately studied. To complicate matters, over-the-counter supplements are not regulated in the same way as drugs, and their composition can vary widely.
Many now turn to turmeric. Turmeric has been used for centuries by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory disorders. Turmeric extract containing the ingredient curcumin is marketed widely in the West as a dietary supplement for the treatment and prevention of a variety of disorders, including arthritis. Turmeric with its long and extensive use has been found to be extremely safe for human use even in high dosages.
A study published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism examined the effect and mechanism of turmeric on arthritis. The University of Arizona College of Medicine may open new doors confirming the claims on the effectiveness of turmeric in arthritis. The study was funded by the U.S. government and was carried out by some of her top professionals.
Janet L. Funk, MD, at the UA College of Medicine worked with Barbara N. Timmermann, PhD who was then-director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Arizona Centre for Phytomedicine Research at the University. They set out to determine whether and how turmeric works as an anti-arthritic agent. Dr. Funk and her colleagues tested on animals a whole extract of turmeric root with only the essential oils and an oil-depleted extract containing the three major curcuminoids found in the rhizome. Of the three extracts, the one containing the major curcuminoids was similar in chemical composition to the commercially available turmeric dietary supplements. It also was the most effective, completely inhibiting the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Funk an endocrinologist, says this study provides several noteworthy "firsts." Completed with the researchers own prepared and well-defined extracts, the study represents the first documentation of the chemical composition of a curcumin-containing extract tested on a living organism for anti-arthritic efficacy. It also provides the first evidence of anti-arthritic efficacy of a complex turmeric extract that is analogous in composition to turmeric dietary supplements. This study also provides the first in vivo documentation of how curcumin-containing extracts prevent arthritis. The researchers found that the curcuminoid extract inhibits a transcription factor called NF-KB from being activated in the joint. A transcription factor is a protein that takes controls when genes are switched on or off. Once the transcription factor NF-KB is activated it binds to genes and enhances the production of inflammatory proteins, destructive to the joint.
The finding that curcuminoid extract inhibits activation of NF-KB suggests that turmeric dietary supplements share the same mechanism of action as anti-arthritic pharmaceuticals that target NF-KB. It also suggests that turmeric may have a use in other inflammatory disorders, such as asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition to preventing joint inflammation, Dr. Funk's study shows that the curcuminoid extract blocked the path that affects bone resorption (breakdown). The NIH is now funding a major study involving post-menopausal women. The authors state that, "just as the willow bark provided relief for arthritis patients before the advent of aspirin, it would appear that the underground stem (rhizome) of a tropical plant (turmeric) may also hold promise for the treatment of joint inflammation and destruction." However, you need blood and tissue levels of 1200mg of curcumin. The biggest problem is the poor absorption of tumeric. Less than 1 percent is absorbed. This would mean having to consume three cupfuls of turmeric powder everyday. However, Belgian scientists have worked on "caging" the molecule with a safe and known carbohydrate molecule to enhance the absorption more than 1,000 times. This is almost like giving you an injection. You just take one to four capsules a day to reduce the pain and swelling. It also prevents further destruction of bone tissues. This is a classic case of science improving on nature. It also brings high blood and tissue levels of a safe and effective natural compound.Suffering from knee pain? A free pain relief kit may help. Learn More Now!Datuk Dr Rajen M. is a pharmacist with a doctorate in holistic medicine. Email him at health@po.jaring.my 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
