Curcumin is a polyphenol compound and the primary bioactive ingredient found in the spice turmeric.
Known for its potent anti-inflammatory capabilities, turmeric & curcumin have long been utilized as a herbal remedy in both Ayuverdic and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Curcumin has more than history on its side though, with a large and growing number of human randomized controlled trials supporting a potential benefit of its use in multiple health conditions.
It Has Been Studied To Help With:
And much more.
Mental and metabolic health are tightly connected to inflammation and the gut microbiome, and curcumin’s anti-inflammatory nature combined with the potential of polyphenol compounds to influence our gut bacteria offers a potential explanation as to why we see this compound positively influencing these types of conditions.
These are only a small sample of some of the issues that curcumin supplementation could help with.
In today’s post, which is sponsored by Canadian supplement manufacturer Jadin Nutraceuticals, I’ll be exploring the latest and greatest evidence around curcumin use specifically for the arthritis and ulcerative colitis.
A special thank you to Jadin whose support allows me to research and prepare today’s content in the best possible way with all views and conclusions provided remaining my own.
That being said, let’s get to the good stuff!
Curcumin & Ulcerative Colitis [UC]
Ulcerative colitis, also known as UC, is one of two types of inflammatory bowl disease [IBD] – the other being Crohn’s disease.
UC is a chronic condition that is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of both the colon & rectum.
In 2020 the Annals Of Gastroenterology journal published a landmark systematic review and meta-analysis looking at the best available human studies involving curcumin and colitis.
The goal was to compare the effects of a common UC medication (mesalamine) vs a combination of that medication AND curcumin supplementation.
The results were very promising and demonstrated that when people with UC on mesalamine also used a curcumin supplement they were nearly 3x more likely to experience a significant clinical response ( ie: a statistically relevant reduction in the severity of their symptoms) compared to mesalamine alone.
Curcumin & Arthritis
Osteoarthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis, the two most common types, are conditions of the joints which have significant quality of life implications.
In 2024, the Journal Of Ethnopharmacology conducted a massive meta-analysis looking at 23 studies involving curcumin use for the management of knee osteoarthritis.
Key Findings:
- A decrease in pain & stiffness scores
- Improvement in joint functionality
- Less reliance on additional pain medication
A particularly notable study published in 2019 found that 500mg of curcumin 3x daily provided similar symptom relief to the NSAID diclofenac (50mg x2 daily) with less GI symptoms.
Curcumin supplementation has also been identified as effective for those suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis as per a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis out of Frontiers In Immunology journal.
Inflammatory markers ( such as CRP) and clinical symptoms (joint tenderness, joint pain) were improved via curcumin use in this population.
Jadin Nutraceutical’s Curcumin
Until next time,
Andy De Santis RD MPH
