Scientific Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

 

3. Curcumin May Help Prevent (and Possibly Treat) Certain Types of Cancer

As inflammation is linked to tumor growth, anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin may play a role in the treatment and prevention of a variety of cancer types, including colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, breast, and gastric cancers.

Research in mice suggests that curcumin may help slow the spread of tumor cells and may even prevent tumors from forming in the first place.

It may do this in several ways, including disrupting the formation of cancerous cells at various stages in the cell cycle, interfering with cell signaling pathways, and even causing those cancerous cells to die.

Whether curcumin can help treat cancer in humans has yet to be determined, but the research is ongoing.

Some research also suggests that turmeric or curcumin can help with certain cancer symptoms. One review of 11 studies on the effects of turmeric on prostate diseases (including eight studies on patients with prostate cancer) suggests that supplementing with turmeric or curcumin may offer perks.

While some studies found curcumin or turmeric supplements had no effect on patients with prostate diseases, a few showed beneficial effects on levels of prostate-specific antigen (a protein produced by the prostate gland; blood levels of this protein are typically higher in men with prostate cancer), urination frequency and urgency, and quality of life.

Researchers note that more studies are needed to assess the true impact of curcumin on prostate conditions like cancer.

4. Curcumin May Help Ease Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin may be a safe and effective long-term treatment option for people with osteoarthritis (OA). At least, that was the conclusion of the authors of a review of the clinical use of curcumin for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

In a past study,

people with osteoarthritis who took 1,000 mg per day of Meriva experienced significant improvements in stiffness and physical function after eight months, whereas the control group saw no improvements. Meriva is a proprietary treatment made up of a natural curcuminoid mixture (75 percent curcumin, 15 percent demethoxycurcumin, and 10 percent bisdemethoxycurcumin), phosphatidylcholine (a chemical found in eggs, soybeans, and other foods),

and microcrystalline cellulose (a refined wood pulp commonly used by the pharmaceutical and food industries).

Meanwhile, a recent clinical trial studied the potential effects of curcumin supplements on patients with knee osteoarthritis. The group that took 40 mg of nanocurcumin in a capsule every 12 hours experienced a significant decrease in pain and stiffness after six weeks compared with the control group.

And a study in mice found that 50 mg oral curcumin per kg of body weight significantly slowed the progression of OA, whereas a topical curcumin treatment provided pain relief.

That said, whether these specific benefits apply to humans has yet to be seen.




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