Curry spice hope for arthritis

[Worcester]

The yellow curry spice, turmeric, may help patients with arthritis, researchers reported today.

The study comes from the University of Arizona in Tucson, USA. Dr Janet Funk and colleagues investigated the effect and mechanism of turmeric.

They compared different versions of turmeric extract on rats, and found that those free of essential oils had a "significant impact" on arthritis. This version could "prevent acute and chronic arthritis", even after arthritis has been induced, they report in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Turmeric held back "joint destruction due to arthritis", and inhibited a protein that is linked to the inflammatory response. It also prevented the build-up of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) in joints, they said.

Many arthritis sufferers turn to complementary and alternative medicine, including dietary supplements such as turmeric, but their composition varies and their effectiveness is unconfirmed.

The researchers say they found an effective dose for rats, and calculated the equivalent for humans. They write: "It would appear that turmeric dietary supplements share the same mechanism of action as antiarthritic pharmaceuticals currently under development."

Turmeric may also block other inflammatory pathways, given its chemical complexity, they add.

"In summary, just as the willow bark provided relief for arthritis patients before the advent of aspirin, it would appear that the underground stem (rhizome) of a tropical plant [turmeric] may also hold promise for the treatment of joint inflammation and destruction," they write.

[Luka]

The only thing curry does is give you the shits.