Key TakeawaysOsteoarthritis of the knee can be painful, and some traditional treatment is associated with negative side effects.A new study shows taking 1,000 mg of turmeric daily for 12 weeks may provide relief.Turmeric contains many beneficial properties. Introducing the plant into your diet may be useful for your overall health.
Key Takeaways
Osteoarthritis of the knee can be painful, and some traditional treatment is associated with negative side effects.A new study shows taking 1,000 mg of turmeric daily for 12 weeks may provide relief.Turmeric contains many beneficial properties. Introducing the plant into your diet may be useful for your overall health.
If you suffer from arthritic knee pain, researchers have found that taking daily turmeric supplements may reduce your discomfort.
In a study published on September 15 in theAnnals of Internal Medicine,researchersevaluated 70 people who suffered from knee osteoarthritis. Researchers found those that the 36 participants who took 1,000 milligrams (mg) of turmeric each day for 12 weeks reported better pain outcomes than the 34 people who took a placebo. However, no difference in the structural aspects of osteoarthritis, like cartilage composition or swelling, was observed.
Turmeric May Be a Solution For Osteoarthritis Knee Pain, Study Finds
“While the sample size in this study was a bit small, I do not see a downside with adding turmeric into one’s diet,”Brittany Scanniello, RD, a Colorado-based registered dietitian, tells Verywell.
What This Means For YouIf you suffer from pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, taking turmeric supplements daily may provide some relief. However, more well-designed studies are needed to make a strong recommendation.
What This Means For You
If you suffer from pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, taking turmeric supplements daily may provide some relief. However, more well-designed studies are needed to make a strong recommendation.
What Is Turmeric?
“Turmeric has been traditionally used as a dye, a spice, and as an anti-inflammatory remedy in both Indian and Chinese medicine, “Pinkey Patel, PharmD, NASM-CPT, doctor of pharmacy and founder ofThe Snapbackpostpartum app, tells Verywell.
Patel points out that curcumin, a compound which makes up about 5% of the spice, carries a number of health properties. It is considered:
However, Patel hesitates to make a blanket statement suggesting turmeric as a cure-all because the bioavailability and metabolism of this compound are dependent on many factors. One person may take it and experience amazing results, while the other may experience nothing.
What is Bioavailability?Bioavailability refers to the degree and rate at which a substance, such as a drug, is absorbed into the body, and is able to have an active effect.
What is Bioavailability?
Bioavailability refers to the degree and rate at which a substance, such as a drug, is absorbed into the body, and is able to have an active effect.
Scanniello echoes these concerns.
“It is critical to note that turmeric has relatively poor bioavailability in humans—about 85% may pass through the GI tract,” she says. “Formulations such as turmeric-fenugreek, turmeric-black pepper, or [turmeric] eaten with fat have shown to increase turmeric absorption and further support its beneficial properties.”
Even though turmeric is “natural,” you should discuss whether it is a good solution for your own personal needs with your healthcare provider before taking it. In people who are pregnant or consistently suing anticoagulation medication, turmeric may come with some unwanted side effects, like risk to pregnancy or increased bleeding.
Turmeric and Pain Relief for Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the knee can be extremely painful and occurs when cartilage wears down to the point that the shin, thigh, and kneecap bones rub together. Pain from osteoarthritis is an important precursor to disability and often is a key reason for seeking out medical care. Since common remedies used to manage osteoarthritis pain like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can have adverse side effects, having an alternative is a welcome antidote.
The findings of this current study, as well as others, suggest that consistent intake of turmeric (specifically curcumin) in clinical doses may result in pain relief with minimal side effects in most populations. However, most of the studies conducted on the link between turmeric and pain relief are small in sample size, and more research is needed.
Turmeric for Arthritis Pain
However, if you are one of the many suffering from knee osteoarthritis, exploring turmeric supplementation or adding the spice to your foods in adequate quantities may be a positive step for pain relief. Golden turmeric latte, anyone?
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang Z, Jones G, Winzenberg T, et al.Effectiveness of curcuma longaextract for the treatment of symptoms and effusion-synovitis of knee osteoarthritis : A randomized trial.Ann Intern Med. 2020 Sep 15. doi:10.7326/M20-0990Decker K.Nutritional Outlook.Still gold: Turmeric studies are revealing new and surprising benefits. Nutritional Outlook. April 7, 2020.Nelson K, Darlin J, Bisson J, et al.The essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin.J Medicinal Chem. 2017;60(5):1620-1637. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975Zhang Y, Jordan J.Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010 Aug;26(3):355-369. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001Daily J, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016 Aug;19(8):717-29. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Shep D, Khanwelkar C, Gade P, Karade S.Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study.Trials. 2019;20:214. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3327-2
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang Z, Jones G, Winzenberg T, et al.Effectiveness of curcuma longaextract for the treatment of symptoms and effusion-synovitis of knee osteoarthritis : A randomized trial.Ann Intern Med. 2020 Sep 15. doi:10.7326/M20-0990Decker K.Nutritional Outlook.Still gold: Turmeric studies are revealing new and surprising benefits. Nutritional Outlook. April 7, 2020.Nelson K, Darlin J, Bisson J, et al.The essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin.J Medicinal Chem. 2017;60(5):1620-1637. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975Zhang Y, Jordan J.Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010 Aug;26(3):355-369. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001Daily J, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016 Aug;19(8):717-29. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Shep D, Khanwelkar C, Gade P, Karade S.Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study.Trials. 2019;20:214. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3327-2
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wang Z, Jones G, Winzenberg T, et al.Effectiveness of curcuma longaextract for the treatment of symptoms and effusion-synovitis of knee osteoarthritis : A randomized trial.Ann Intern Med. 2020 Sep 15. doi:10.7326/M20-0990Decker K.Nutritional Outlook.Still gold: Turmeric studies are revealing new and surprising benefits. Nutritional Outlook. April 7, 2020.Nelson K, Darlin J, Bisson J, et al.The essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin.J Medicinal Chem. 2017;60(5):1620-1637. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975Zhang Y, Jordan J.Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010 Aug;26(3):355-369. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001Daily J, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016 Aug;19(8):717-29. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Shep D, Khanwelkar C, Gade P, Karade S.Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study.Trials. 2019;20:214. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3327-2
Wang Z, Jones G, Winzenberg T, et al.Effectiveness of curcuma longaextract for the treatment of symptoms and effusion-synovitis of knee osteoarthritis : A randomized trial.Ann Intern Med. 2020 Sep 15. doi:10.7326/M20-0990
Decker K.Nutritional Outlook.Still gold: Turmeric studies are revealing new and surprising benefits. Nutritional Outlook. April 7, 2020.
Nelson K, Darlin J, Bisson J, et al.The essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin.J Medicinal Chem. 2017;60(5):1620-1637. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975
Zhang Y, Jordan J.Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010 Aug;26(3):355-369. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001
Daily J, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016 Aug;19(8):717-29. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705
Shep D, Khanwelkar C, Gade P, Karade S.Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study.Trials. 2019;20:214. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3327-2
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