Curcumin may relieve pain, inflammation for osteoarthritis patients

A study published in Alternative Medicine Review shows that Meriva, an Indena proprietary formulation of curcumin with soy phospholipids, has been shown to relieve pain and increase mobility in patients with osteoarthritis as well as reduce a series of inflammatory markers.

In the study, 100 patients with X-ray confirmed osteoarthritis (OA) were divided in two groups. The first one was managed using the “best available treatment” and the second group used the best available treatment plus Meriva, at a dosage corresponding to 200 mg curcumin/day.

The results showed that the Meriva-treated group had a statistically significant reduction in all primary clinical end-points, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score, the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and the treadmill walking performance test. These results were complemented by the evaluation of a series of inflammatory markers, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]), which also showed a marked reduction in the Meriva-treated group, while no significant variation was observed in the “best available treatment” group.

Commenting on the results of the study, Giovanni Appendino, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Eastern Piedmont and Indena Scientific Advisor, said “this study represents the most ambitious attempt, to date, to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent. Although no direct comparison study of Meriva versus NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) has been conducted, the decreased use of these drugs observed in the treatment group provides a rationale for evaluating whether the biochemical improvement in the inflammatory status associated with Meriva could eventually translate to a phase out of NSAIDs use, at least for mild-to-moderate OA.”