Knee osteoarthritis refers to a chronic joint disease in which an individual suffers from joint pain and functional loss. It often forces patients suffering from it to lead an impaired quality of life and creates a tremendous socioeconomic burden on the patient and his family. Even though the disease is known to produce huge hurdles, there are no drugs available to reduce the effects caused by it. Two available anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal and acetaminophen) do not have much ability to slow structural progression. They have also shown an association with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal complications. Both the drugs have moderate effects on pain at best and result in patient dissatisfaction, speeding joint replacement.
A recent study may have solved this problem by bringing a new found use of Turmeric, leading to a reduction in knee pain. Finding brought on by this new research may develop the Turmeric Market as it states that the aqueous-based extract found in turmeric may be able to improve better knee pain caused in patients suffering from osteoarthritis, in comparison to placebo. This inactive drug can increase the physical reaction in the body to relieve pain.
This study centers on patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis with local inflammation going over 12 weeks. Although the usage of extract only resulted in moderate relief from the pain, it was achieved without any effect on knee structural measures, as measured by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
Turmeric Extract has been known to be an integral part of both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic. The principal constituent of the extract is known as Curcumin, which has acetaminophen, analgesic, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The team resolved to determine the effectiveness of turmeric extract concerning knee symptoms and effusion-synovitis volume.
Researchers theorized that using turmeric extract would decrease knee pain and knee joint effusion-synovitis volume for over 12 weeks in patients suffering from an inflammatory phenotype of knee osteoarthritis. To come to this conclusion, researchers grouped 70 participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and did an ultrasound of the swelling present inside the knee joint. As per the result, they decided to either prescribe two capsules per day of turmeric or a similar amount of placebo for 12 weeks. The test enabled them to understand if turmeric extract was successful in reducing knee symptoms and joint swelling.
Researchers analyzed the results with the help of a standardized questionnaire and MRI for 12 weeks. Changes in cartilage composition, quality of life, physical performance measures, pain medication usage, and adverse events were also noted down. After 12 weeks, the team realized that turmeric supplements resulted in less pain and no adverse effect when compared to records of patients in the placebo group. Moreover, participants in the turmeric group consumed fewer pain medications than participants present in the placebo group.
There need to be further multi-center trials of this finding that take up the cause for a longer duration and with much bigger samples than taken during this study. This will additionally make clear the clinical significance of this study.