By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

A yellow spice used in food and traditional Chinese medicine – turmeric – is effective in treating osteoarthritis knee pain, according to small placebo-controlled study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Tasmania, Australia randomly assigned 70 participants with knee osteoarthritis to receive either 2 capsules per day of turmeric or a placebo. Changes in pain and swelling in the knees were assessed by questionnaire and MRIs.

After 12 weeks, researchers found that patients taking daily turmeric supplements reported moderate improvement in pain compared to the placebo group. They also consumed fewer pain medications. There was no difference in the cartilage or structural changes in the knees between the two groups.

Due to the modest effect of turmeric on knee pain, small sample size and short duration of the study, researchers suggest that multi-center clinical trials with more patients are needed to assess the clinical significance of their findings.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disorder that leads to thinning of cartilage and progressive joint damage. Knee OA is quite common and affects over 250 million people worldwide. Women are more likely than men to have knee OA and to have more severe pain. Studies have also found that women with knee OA are at greater risk of early death from cardiovascular disease.

No disease-modifying drugs are currently available to treat osteoarthritis. Common pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have only mild to moderate effects on OA pain and can have side events.

Turmeric is a medicinal herb that is used in Indian, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern foods as a spice. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has potent anti-inflammatory effects and is a strong antioxidant.

In a PNN guest column, Judie Plumley reported that curcumin supplements helped ease the chronic back pain that left her bedridden. “I am amazed with the results!  My pain is now bearable. I can do about twice as much as I could before, and I am spending much less time in bed,” wrote Plumley.

Turmeric and curcumin are often touted as treatments for everything from diabetes and depression to cancer and high cholesterol. However, research results on their effectiveness have been mixed.