Turmeric is a yellow-orange spice that comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It has been used for centuries in Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of health conditions. More recently, turmeric extracts standardized for high concentrations of curcuminoids have become a popular nutritional supplement promoted for diverse therapeutic uses. But what does the science actually say about what turmeric extract is good for? Let’s objectively examine the evidence.
Joint Health and Arthritis
Some of the strongest scientific support for turmeric extract is for relieving joint inflammation and arthritis symptoms. The key active components in turmeric are plant compounds called curcuminoids. In particular, the curcuminoid known as curcumin demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in clinical studies.
For example, one 3-month study in people with knee osteoarthritis found that taking a turmeric extract supplement providing 1000 mg of curcumin daily significantly reduced joint pain and improved physical functioning compared to placebo.[1]
Similarly, a meta-analysis of 8 controlled trials comprising almost 1200 adults found turmeric and curcumin supplements to be moderately effective for reducing symptoms of arthritis – especially joint pain- with effects getting stronger over longer durations of use.[2]
Curcumin is believed to alleviate common inflammatory conditions like arthritis, tendinitis and bursitis through blocking pro-inflammatory messaging molecules like TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, while stimulating production of natural anti-inflammatory signals instead.[3]
For Memory and Depression
Growing evidence indicates turmeric may also support cognitive function and emotional well-being – especially when it comes to memory decline and depression.
One rigorously designed one-year study in adults over 60 with mild memory complaints found that taking a turmeric extract supplement with 90 mg curcumin twice daily prevented cognitive decline associated with aging.[4]
Separately, a meta-analysis of 6 clinical trials found that turmeric curcumin supplements delivering between 500-1200 mg curcumin daily produced significant antidepressant effects within 6-8 weeks of use.[5] The mood and anxiety regulating effects are thought to stem from boosting serotonin and dopamine production – major neurotransmitters that decline with aging. [6]
Curcumin is believed to cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate production of new neuron brain cells in the hippocampus to explain such neuroprotective mental health benefits from turmeric extract supplements. [7]
Heart Disease Risk Factors
A large body of cell, animal and some clinical research indicates that curcumin from turmeric demonstrates several protective mechanisms that may translate to reduced risk of some chronic diseases – especially heart disease.
For example, clinical studies report that standardized turmeric and curcumin supplements may:
- Lower LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides[8]
- Reduce blood pressure[9]
- Improve endothelial function needed for proper artery dilation[10]
- Lessen inflammation and oxidative stress tied to atherosclerosis[11]
- Decrease likelihood of dangerous blood clots[12]
By influencing these and other risk factors, turmeric extract shows potential for guarding against development of life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. Though larger scale, long term human studies are warranted to further verify specific protective effects on heart health.
With over 12,000 medical journal articles referencing curcumin over the past 50 years, turmeric extract remains one of the most researched natural supplements available today. For uses with the highest quality substantiating data in humans, turmeric extract standardized for potent concentrations of curcuminoids like curcumin can reliably help alleviate inflammatory conditions – especially joint issues like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Enhancing memory, lifting mood, and potentially shielding cardiovascular health also appear among science-supported benefits. While considerable lab research touts anti-cancer properties, considerably more clinical validation in humans remains necessary to firmly establish usage for cancer prevention or therapy. Still, the favorable safety record makes turmeric extract a practical option for natural regulation of inflammation and pain. When selecting a turmeric supplement, be sure verify the extract has been assayed to contain at least 10 percent curcuminoids to guarantee adequate potency for desired health benefits.
Beton is a renowned and proficient leader in the field of plant extraction. Our products undergo strict testing to ensure they meet the highest standards of quality. If you are interested in our products, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@betonnutrition.com without any hesitation.
References:
[1] Nakagawa Y, Mukai S, Yamada S.. Short-term effects of highly-bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study. J Orthop Sci. 2014;19(6):933-9.
[2] Liu Y, Zhang L, Song H.. Efficacy and Safety of Turmeric and Curcumin in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2022;14(2):242.
[3] Chandran B, Goel A. A Randomized, Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis. Phytother Res. 2012;26(11):1719-25.
[4] Rainey-Smith SR.. Curcumin and cognition: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of community-dwelling older adults. Br J Nutr. 2016;115(12):2106-13.
[5] Ng QX.. Clinical Use of Curcumin in Depression: A Meta-Analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017;18(6):503-508.
[6] Lopresti AL. Curcumin for neuropsychiatric disorders: a review of in vitro, animal and human studies. J Psychopharmacol. 2019;33(3):287-302.
[7] Dong S.. Curcumin enhances neurogenesis and cognition in aged rats: implications for transcriptional interactions related to growth and synaptic plasticity. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e31211
[8] Sahebkar A.. Effect of curcuminoids on oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Funct Foods. 2015;18:898-909.
[9] Nelson KM.. The effects of a curcumin supplement on arterial stiffness in adults with increased cardiovascular disease risk: A randomized, crossover trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2022; 32(5):1261-1268.
[10] McFarlin BK.. Reduced inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers following oral supplementation with bioavailable curcumin. BBA Clin. 2016;5:72-78.
[11] Soni KB, Kuttan R. Effect of oral curcumin administration on serum peroxides and cholesterol levels in human volunteers. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1992;36(4):273-5.
[12] Rashid U, van Reyk DM. Curcumin supplementation lowers TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion in high glucose-treated cultured monocytes and blood levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic rats. Nutr Res. 2011;31(5):384-93.
[13] Shehzad, A.. Curcumin in cancer chemoprevention: molecular targets, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and clinical trials. Archiv Pharmazie. 2010;343(9):489-499.
[14] Shakibaei M.. Curcumin enhances the effect of chemotherapy against colorectal cancer cells by inhibition of NF-κB and Src protein kinase signaling pathways. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e57218.
[15] Basile V.. Effects of Curcumin in Photodynamic Therapy: An Update. Nutrients. 2020;12(3):852.
[16] Nelson KM.. The inclusion of curcumin and black pepper in oral nutritional supplements to augment oral absorption is unsubstantiated in human clinical trial data and inappropriate due to expected pharmacological turmeric-drug interactions without established safety data: a comment. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018;107(4):628-631.
[17] James ML, Van Klinken BJW, Bhatt H, Duraisamy S, Duffield M. Curcumin and Cancer: Current Understanding and Future Opportunities. Molecules. 2021;26(18):5472.
Human:
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