Turmeric's Effects on Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

The Potential Benefits of Turmeric for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation and pain in the joints. Many people with RA turn to complementary approaches like supplements in addition to traditional medications to find relief. One popular supplemental option is turmeric, a bright yellow spice commonly used in Indian cuisine.

The active compound in turmeric that provides health benefits is curcumin. Some research suggests curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could be helpful for managing RA symptoms. However, the evidence is still preliminary when it comes to using turmeric/curcumin supplements for RA.

What the Research Says About Turmeric and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Several studies have looked at the impact of turmeric and curcumin on RA symptoms like pain, morning stiffness, and joint swelling. The results are mixed but promising:

• A study in Phytotherapy Research found that curcumin was as effective as the RA drug diclofenac at reducing disease activity scores in people with active RA after 8 weeks. Those taking curcumin also had fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
• A review in Foods summarized results from several clinical trials using turmeric/curcumin for inflammatory conditions including RA. The researchers concluded that curcumin supplementation for 8-12 weeks can reduce symptoms like pain and morning stiffness while improving quality of life.
• Another review in the Journal of Medicinal Food looked at the role of various spices, including turmeric, for inflammatory arthritis. The authors noted that the evidence for turmeric/curcumin is still preliminary but its anti-inflammatory effects look promising for arthritis relief.

Potential Mechanisms Behind Turmeric's Effects on RA

Researchers speculate that turmeric may help relieve RA in various ways, such as:

• Reducing inflammatory cytokines: Compounds in turmeric like curcumin appear to lower inflammatory markers like cytokines and prostaglandins that drive RA disease activity and pain.
• Activating antioxidants: Curcumin boosts production of antioxidants in the body that neutralize cell-damaging free radicals tied to inflammation.
• Changing gene expression: Turmeric ingredients may interact with genes and cell signaling proteins in ways that turn down inflammation by impacting NF-kB and other inflammatory pathways.

Should You Take Turmeric Supplements for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

At this point, turmeric and curcumin supplements need more high quality clinical research to confirm their efficacy and safety for RA.

While they appear relatively safe for short-term use based on limited data, their long-term effects are unknown. Since RA is a chronic disease requiring lifelong management, more studies in this population are warranted.

If you want to try turmeric or curcumin capsules or extracts, talk to your rheumatologist first to make sure they won't interact with your medications. It's also wise not to stop your conventional RA treatment and rely solely on turmeric supplements without medical supervision.

5 Supplements That May Be Harmful for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Some complementary supplements may help provide symptom relief for rheumatoid arthritis. However, others could potentially make RA worse or interact negatively with RA drugs.

Here are 5 types of supplements those with RA may want to use cautiously or avoid:

1. St. John's Wort

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herbal supplement often used to treat depression and anxiety. Some preliminary research suggests it also has anti-inflammatory properties.

However, this popular supplement has major potential interactions with many common RA medications that modify the immune system or thin the blood. These negative interactions could reduce the effectiveness of important RA drugs or increase side effects.

Talk to your doctor before taking St. John's wort if you take any RA medications, especially DMARDs like methotrexate or biologics like Humira or Enbrel.

2. Ginkgo Biloba

This popular herbal remedy made from ginkgo tree leaves is sometimes used to treat autoimmune diseases like RA thanks to its antioxidant content. But ginkgo may be risky for those on certain anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.

Ginkgo biloba can slow blood clotting and interact with drugs that thin the blood like warfarin, heparin, or NSAIDs. Combining ginkgo with these RA medications may raise the odds of excessive bleeding or bruising.

3. Fish Oil

Some research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids like those in fish oil supplements may relieve joint tenderness and morning stiffness for RA. However, fish oil may not be suitable for anyone taking blood thinners.

Large amounts of fish oil can affect clotting and increase the odds of bleeding excessively. Combining fish oil with blood thinners commonly prescribed for cardiovascular complications of RA like warfarin (Coumadin) could be risky.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E has antioxidant properties and preliminary research suggests it may have some anti-inflammatory effects. But this popular vitamin may not mix safely with commonly prescribed RA medications.

High-dose vitamin E could make the blood thinner warfarin less effective in those using it to reduce RA complication risks. Vitamin E might also impact how methotrexate is metabolized, requiring dosage adjustments of this cornerstone RA medication.

5. Green Tea Extract

Some clinical trials show promise that highly concentrated green tea extract with active compounds like EGCG may help reduce RA disease activity and protect cartilage breakdown.

However, green tea ingredients can block an enzyme system called CYP450 that helps metabolize certain medications in the body. They may interact with drugs broken down by this system like methotrexate, leflunomide, azathioprine, or cyclosporine used for controlling RA.

Green tea extracts could potentially cause levels of these RA drugs to increase in the body, raising side effects risk. More research is still needed, but it may be wise for those on RA medications to avoid high-potency green tea supplements without medical approval.

The Takeaway

Some complementary supplements appear promising to help ease symptoms like pain and stiffness for rheumatoid arthritis. However, others may negatively interact with RA medications or have unwanted side effects.

Research on supplements like turmeric/curcumin for RA looks encouraging so far, but more clinical trials are still needed. It's wise to use complementary products cautiously under medical supervision to avoid complications with RA drug regimens or disease progression.

Talk to your rheumatologist before trying any new supplements to make sure they are appropriate for your individual health status and won't interfere with your treatment plan.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.