Turmeric and Osteoarthritis Pain
23rd Feb, 2021

Turmeric and OA

 

Turmeric extract improves knee osteoarthritis pain

 

An extract of turmeric (Curcuma longa) was more effective than placebo for reducing pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis in a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (1).

In the single-centre study, seventy participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and ultrasound evidence of effusion-synovitis (swelling inside the knee joint) were randomised to receive a turmeric extract (80% aqueous-based extract standardised to turmerosaccharides plus 20% curcuminoids) (500 mg capsule twice daily) or placebo for 12 weeks.

Compared to placebo, the turmeric extract improved knee pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Knee pain, function and stiffness, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was also improved.

Turmeric did not alter effusion-synovitis volume and did not impact lateral femoral cartilage composition. The turmeric extract was safe, with few treatment-related adverse effects (1).

Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative joint diseases and a leading cause of chronic disability (2). It is characterised by a progressive breakdown of articular cartilage and remodelling of joint tissues, which is driven by unresolved chronic inflammation (3). Common treatments for osteoarthritis, such as analgesics, steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have only mild to moderate effects. They are also associated with serious gastrointestinal, renal and cardiovascular adverse events (4). As such, an urgent need exists for safer and more effective alternatives to treat osteoarthritis.

Extensive research has shown that turmeric extracts, primarily curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoycurcumin), possess broad therapeutic effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that are effective for reducing pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis (5,6,7,8).

Recent research demonstrates that water-soluble polysaccharides derived from turmeric roots, called turmerosaccharides, also possess anti-inflammatory activity, and have ameliorating effects on joint pain in osteoarthritis (9,10,11). 

These turmerosaccharides can inhibit cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin pathways, which cause pain and joint destruction in osteoarthritis (12).

The results of the latest clinical trial demonstrate the potential of a turmeric extract, comprising a combination of curcuminoids and turmerosaccharides, for the symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis. However, further high-quality trials of appropriate size and duration are required to assess the clinical significance of the findings.

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References
1Wang Z, Jones G, Winzenberg T, Cai G, Laslett L, Aitken D, et al. A randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial of curcuma longa extract for treating symptoms and effusion-synovitis of knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthr Cartil [Internet]. 2020;28(2020):S489.
2Onakpoya IJ, Spencer EA, Perera R, Heneghan CJ. Effectiveness of curcuminoids in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Int J Rheum Dis. 2017;20(4):420–33.
3Gupte PA, Giramkar SA, Harke SM, Kulkarni SK, Deshmukh AP, Hingorani LL, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of capsule longvida® optimized curcumin (solid lipid curcumin particles) in knee osteoarthritis: A pilot clinical study. J Inflamm Res. 2019;12:145–52.
4Charlesworth J, Fitzpatrick J, Perera NK, Orchard J. Osteoarthritis-a systematic review of long-term safety implications for osteoarthritis of the knee. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2019 Dec 1;20(1):151.
5Bannuru RR, Osani MC, Al-Eid F, Wang C. Efficacy of curcumin and Boswellia for knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum [Internet]. 2018;48(3):416–29.
6Chin KY. The spice for joint inflammation: Anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016;10:3029–42.
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8Srivastava S, Saksena AK, Khattri S, Kumar S, Dagur RS. Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Inflammopharmacology. 2016 Dec 1;24(6):377-88.
9Bethapudi B, Murugan S, Illuri R, Mundkinajeddu D, Velusami CC. Bioactive turmerosaccharides from Curcuma longa extract (NR-INF-02): potential ameliorating effect on osteoarthritis pain. Pharmacognosy magazine. 2017 Oct;13(Suppl 3):S623.
10Madhu K, Chanda K, Saji MJ. Safety and efficacy of Curcuma longa extract in the treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Inflammopharmacology. 2013 Apr 1;21(2):129-36.
11Raj JP, Venkatachalam S, Racha P, Bhaskaran S, Amaravati RS. Effect of Turmacin supplementation on joint discomfort and functional outcome among healthy participants – A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2020;53(March).
12Velusami CC, Richard EJ, Bethapudi B. Polar extract of Curcuma longa protects cartilage homeostasis: possible mechanism of action. Inflammopharmacology [Internet]. 2018;26(5):1233–43.