Can Turmeric help with Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the bone and cartilage of the joints, or rheumatoid arthritis, initiated by an immunological response, is a debilitating condition. It can significantly impact people’s lives in a variety of ways, both mentally and physically.
Studies have shown that turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why our high strength turmeric supplements are used by customers that suffer with arthritis to help with pain and inflammation.
Leading charity, Versus Arthritis, reported on Turmeric trials for osteoarthritis:
“The 107 participants with primary osteoarthritis of the knee were randomised to receive either 2 g turmeric or 800 mg ibuprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) per day for six weeks.
“Both groups’ pain levels when walking and when climbing stairs improved, as did their knee function.
“Those who took turmeric found that their pain when climbing stairs improved more than those who received ibuprofen.”
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a spice that has been used in Eastern cultures for many centuries as a treatment for certain conditions. Medical interest has more recently been focused on the role of turmeric in the interaction of oxidation and inflammation.
Containing over 100 bioactive ingredients from the essential oils to the flavonoid curcumin (and tetracurcuminoids, curcumimoids, etc.), turmeric has a multitude of beneficial properties.
How does turmeric help with arthritis?
In the case of arthritis, there is a range of antioxidative functions between the terpenes and curcuminoids found in turmeric, as well cues that interact with the pro-/anti-inflammation cycle. These components help promote the antioxidative, and help decrease the oxidative enzymes, reducing oxidative stress, whilst also reducing the activation of MMP.
This combination of effects does help limit cartilage erosion, and the subsequent impact on underlying bone damage. By acting over a range of metabolic pathways, turmeric can help support cartilage integrity, aiding the optimisation of the collagen synthesis/breakdown cycle, and maintain the joints.
However, these components need to get into the relevant areas; curcumin, in particular, is difficult to absorb, and it is almost immediately inactivated and eliminated by a process called glucuronidation.
Both the Turmeric Golden Paste for People and the Organic Turmeric Capsules have been formulated to ensure that the turmeric bioactives not only get absorbed but also have the time to optimise their function.
How does black pepper help with the absorption?
Black pepper whose active ingredient, piperine, reduces glucuronidation, extending the activity of curcumin for several hours, allowing it to function. At the same time piperine can improve the absorption of all the turmeric actives, through regulation of tight junctions in the intestinal wall. This is further enhanced by either the short chain fatty acids of coconut oil, or the polyunsaturates of linseed oil.
