How much curcumin should i take for arthritis

However, more research is necessary to confirm these effects. Other research suggests that curcumin may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In addition, it may lessen some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint swelling and morning stiffness. When taken by mouth or applied to the skin, turmeric — and the curcumin it contains — appears to be generally safe when limited to less than 8 grams a day.

Research suggests curcumin also targets specific inflammatory cells and blocks certain enzymes that lead to inflammation. Turmeric only contains about 2 to 9 percent curcuminoids, a family of active compounds that includes curcumin. Plus, curcumin is hard for your body to absorb. Supplements are the more efficient choice. When combined in a complex with curcumin, it has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2, percent. Both turmeric and curcumin are generally considered safe, without any serious side effects.

The supplement may interact with certain prescription medicines, and may aggravate gall stone disease, cautions Dr. Want more on natural treatments? Subscribe to CreakyJoints for research-backed information and advice on living with arthritis. CreakyJoints is a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research.

We present patients through our popular social media channels, our website CreakyJoints. In the last few years, 13 brands of turmeric have been recalled for lead contamination. Curcumin seems to target specific molecules or pathways that control the cell cycle. It also blocks inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, including 5-LOX and cyclooxygenase-2 COX-2 , the target of the drug celecoxib. For example, a review of eight randomized controlled trials found that mg a day of curcumin relieved OA pain as effectively as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories NSAIDs like ibuprofen — minus the intestinal side effects.

Other research suggests that low doses of curcumin may help restore a normal balance between T cells that cause inflammation Th17 cells and those that protect against it regulatory T cells. Their symptoms were at least moderately severe and required treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAID. For one month, they were given the NSAID diclofenac 50 mg, twice daily or curcumin mg, three times daily.

Why curcumin? Its use has been advocated for cardiovascular health, arthritis, and a host of other conditions. However, well-designed studies of its health benefits are limited. Not so fast. A number of factors give me pause:. Studies of this sort are vitally important in trying to understand whether dietary changes can be helpful for arthritis.

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There are thousands of publications in reputable scientific journals on the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin. The most important limitation of this study, which was not mentioned in the commentary, was that there was not a placebo control group. So, information regarding purity, strength, and potential interaction with other medications or diseases is typically limited for treatments like curcumin.