Turmeric and arthritis: everything you need to know!

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is the most common joint disorder and often the first joints to be affected are those of the knee. A US study found that in people over the age of 60, at least 10% of men and 13% of women have symptoms of arthritis in their knees.

Arthritis includes more than 100 different forms. The most common form is osteoarthritis, while other forms include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and related autoimmune diseases [1]. Although the causes of these conditions are different, the symptoms are similar. Arthritis is associated with inflammation and pain, but there is no cure for its underlying causes.

In particular, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs in the elderly but can also start in middle age, especially if there is an injury to the joint. While exercise, weight loss can help, they often do not have a significant effect.About 1 million joint replacements (mostly knee and hip) are performed in the United States each year, so it is no surprise that patients want to try anything safe if it can offer relief. Patients are often interested in nutrition, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods.

The active ingredient of turmeric

Recent studies have shown that turmeric, a spice that is very popular in India, can help relieve joint pain. Experts say there is growing evidence that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may have health benefits.

Why curcumin?

Because it is a substance that has anti-inflammatory action. Its use has been supported for cardiovascular health, arthritis and other ailments. It blocks a molecule called NF-kB, which enters the cell nucleus and activates genes associated with inflammation. NF-κB is thought to play an important role in many chronic diseases. The bottom line is that curcumin is a bioactive substance that fights inflammation at the cellular level.

Turmeric content of turmeric

However, the curcumin content of turmeric is not high, it is about 3% by weight and the bioavailability of curcumin is low. Therefore it is impossible to get a sufficient amount of curcumin only from the spice. It is noteworthy, however, that a study found that the consumption of black pepper – contains piperine – helps the body increase the absorption of curcumin by 2,000% [3]. Based on this, the best curcumin supplements are those that also contain piperine. Curcumin is a fat-soluble substance, which means it should be taken with fat-containing meals.

Are there any contraindications?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), curcumin is “generally recognized as safe.” However, the FDA has warned that in an analysis turmeric from Bangladesh was found to contain excessive levels of lead, which can adversely affect your health [4].

At Vita4you.gr you will find a wide variety of products with turmeric with natural anti-inflammatory action!

References

1. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers.
2. Notice to US Food and Drug Administration of the Conclusion that the Intended Use of Curcumin is Generally Recognized as Safe.