Nos actifs 27/01/2025

Curcumin, an ally for the joints? What science says about it

Joint pain is a common problem that affects not only thousands of people [1], but especially impacts quality of life and the ability to perform daily tasks. Among the most frequent causes are osteoarthritis and arthritis, two conditions often confused but distinct. Although having different causes and risk factors, these two pathologies share symptoms, notably pain and joint stiffness. Faced with the limits of conventional treatments, curcumin has been cited for over 50 years by modern science as a natural solution to reduce pain and improve mobility. An overview of what science says about it. 

Pain relief and comparison with non-steroidal painkillers

Several studies have shown that curcumin has the ability to reduce pain at levels similar to non-steroidal painkillers (NSAIDs), and this without unpleasant side effects, such as flatulence, stomach pain, nausea, etc. [3,4, 5, 6, 12, 14]. These studies generally measure pain with the WOMAC index (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), the visual pain score (PVAS), or the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).  

Among these studies:

• A 2014 Thai study demonstrated that a total daily dose of 1500 mg of Curcuma domestica had the same effect on pain as 1200 mg of ibuprofen after just four weeks of intake [3].
• A 2016 meta-analysis, based on 8 scientific articles, highlighted a reduction in pain from 250 mg/day of curcumin and an efficacy comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with better tolerance [4].
• In 2019, a randomized clinical trial on 139 patients with osteoarthritis demonstrated similar efficacy of curcumin (from 1500mg/day) to diclofenac (100mg/day) with better tolerance among patients [6].
• A 2022 systematic review showed that curcumin has short-term analgesic and functional effects, particularly in patients suffering from symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, without causing an increase in adverse effects [5].

Many other studies and meta-analyses have highlighted similar results, suggesting that curcumin is as effective as medications in reducing pain and improving joint function. This research supports the use of curcumin as a promising option for the natural management of joint pain. 

Reduction of inflammation

Curcumin is notably renowned for its anti-inflammatory effect [4,7], demonstrated in more than 11,000 experimental studies and supported by the Swiss League Against Rheumatism [8]. 

It appears that curcumin can decrease several inflammatory parameters, such as COX-1, LOX, TNF-α, and Interleukins 1 and 6 [8], and cytokines by reducing NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) [8, 9, 10, 11].

Furthermore, according to a 2023 in vitro and in vivo study, curcumin can significantly lower inflammation markers by inhibiting the degradation of IκBα and by attenuating the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome [11].   

Improvement and protection of joint function and mobility

By its ability to reduce pain and decrease inflammation, curcumin helps improve joint function as well as increase mobility and reduce stiffness and rigidity [4,5].

A 2021 meta-analysis [12], covering 15 randomized trials and a total of 1621 patients, demonstrated that curcumin, compared to placebo and conventional anti-inflammatory treatments, had a significant effect on stiffness and promoted improvement in joint function. Again, it has effects comparable to conventional treatments but with fewer side effects. 

Prevention and slowing of disease progression

According to the Swiss League Against Rheumatism [8] and the Society Arthritis Canada [13], curcumin possesses antioxidant properties that protect joints against damage caused by oxidative stress, a factor that contributes to cartilage degradation and arthritis progression. 

Regarding osteoarthritis, a 2016 study demonstrated that curcumin can have a significant effect on disease progression by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-1β and TNF-α, increasing the chondro-protective transcriptional regulator CITED2, and decreasing matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and aggrecanase ADAMTS5 [14].

Conclusion

The scientific studies above support that curcumin offers significant benefits for patients with joint pain and suffering from osteoarthritis or arthritis, notably:

• Relieve pain
• Improve mobility
• Reduce inflammation and stiffness
• Prevent and slow progression
• Offer a well-tolerated natural alternative

Studies suggest that curcumin could be an effective natural alternative for managing joint pain and improving the quality of life of patients suffering from osteoarthritis, with measurable results and demonstrated tolerance. Furthermore, the effects on pain reduction are comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatments, but without side effects. 

Although the results are encouraging, it is advisable to consult your attending physician. Moreover, not all turmeric-based dietary supplements are equal. It is important to choose a dietary supplement with a real dosage of the active ingredient, namely curcuminoids or curcumin. Science recognizes a minimum of 250mg/day of active ingredient [4], several recommend a dose ranging up to 1500mg/day to 2000mg/day [2,3,6]. Also, it is recommended to choose a formula enriched with piperine, that is black pepper extract, for better absorption.

 

Sources 

[1] Statista. Annual incidence of osteoarthritis in Europe from 1990 to 2019, by gender. https://www.statista.com/topics/8405/chronic-pain-and-rheumatic-diseases-in-europe/ 

[2] Shapiro, S. C. (2018). Turmeric: The Evidence for Therapeutic Use for Arthritis. The Rheumatologist. https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/turmeric-the-evidence-for-therapeutic-use-for-arthritis/2/ 

[3] Kuptniratsaikul V, Dajpratham P, Taechaarpornkul W, et al. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A multicenter study. Clin Interv Aging. 2014 Mar 20;9:451–458. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24672232

[4] Daily, J. W., Yang M., and Park S. (2016). Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Journal of medicinal food 19.8 : 717-729. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jmf.2016.3705 

[5] Feng, J., Li, Z., Tian, L., Mu, P., Hu, Y., Xiong, F., & Ma, X. (2022). Efficacy and safety of curcuminoids alone in alleviating pain and dysfunction for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 22(1), 276. https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-022-03740-9 

[6] Shep, D., Khanwelkar, C., Gade, P., & Karad, S. (2019). Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study. Trials, 20, 1-11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-019-3327-2 

[7] Verywell Health. Turmeric and Its Antioxidant Curcumin. https://www.verywellhealth.com/turmeric-curcumin-benefits-7110668

[8] La Ligue suisse contre le rhumatisme. Curcuma contre rhumatismes. https://www.ligues-rhumatisme.ch/blog/2019/curcuma-contre-rhumatismes

[9] Creaky Joints. Turmeric and Curcumin for Arthritis: Does It Actually Help Relieve Pain? https://creakyjoints.org/alternative-medicine/turmeric-curcumin-for-arthritis/

[10] Koroljević, Z. D., Jordan, K., Ivković, J., Bender, D. V., & Perić, P. (2023). Curcuma as an anti-inflammatory component in treating osteoarthritis. Rheumatology international, 43(4), 589-616. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00296-022-05244-8 

[11] Chen, B., Li, H., Ou, G., Ren, L., Yang, X., & Zeng, M. (2019). Curcumin attenuates MSU crystal-induced inflammation by inhibiting the degradation of IκBα and blocking mitochondrial damage. Arthritis research & therapy, 21, 1-15. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13075-019-1974-z 

[12] Zeng, L., Yu, G., Hao, W., Yang, K., & Chen, H. (2021). The efficacy and safety of Curcuma longa extract and curcumin supplements on osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bioscience reports, 41(6), BSR20210817. https://portlandpress.com/bioscirep/article/41/6/BSR20210817/228709/The-efficacy-and-safety-of-Curcuma-longa-extract  

[13] Arthitis Society Canada. Turmeric. https://arthritis.ca/treatment/emerging-treatment-and-research/turmeric 

[14] Zhang, Z. et al. (2016). Curcumin slows osteoarthritis progression and relieves osteoarthritis-associated pain symptoms in a post-traumatic osteoarthritis mouse model. Arthritis research & therapy, 18, 1-12. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13075-016-1025-y