Curcumin, as an adjuvant treatment of mesalamine, was proved to be effective and safe in UC

Abstract
Background and Aim

Aminosalicylic acids are recognized to be the first‐line treatment options for ulcerative colitis. Currently, the effectiveness of curcumin as an adjuvant treatment in ulcerative colitis has been investigated, which was still controversial. This study aimed to systematically review and meta‐analyze the efficacy and safety of curcumin as an adjuvant treatment in ulcerative colitis.
Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from original to July 2019, and relevant randomized controlled clinical trials were enrolled and analyzed. The primary outcomes were clinical and endoscopic remission; meanwhile, the secondary outcomes were clinical and endoscopic improvement. Subgroup analyses of doses, delivery way, form, and intervention time of curcumin were also conducted.
Results

Six randomized controlled clinical trials with a total of 349 patients were included. Eligible trials suggested that adjuvant curcumin treatment in ulcerative colitis was effective in inducing clinical remission (odds ratio [OR] = 5.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.84–14.56, P = 0.002), endoscopic remission (OR = 5.69, 95% CI: 1.28–25.27, P = 0.02), and endoscopic improvement (OR = 17.05, 95% CI: 1.30–233.00, P = 0.03), but not in clinical improvement (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 1.02–22.43, P = 0.05). We can see the potential advantages in large dosage, topical enema, special drug form, and longer duration from the enrolled studies. There were no severe side effects reported.
Conclusions

Curcumin, as an adjuvant treatment of mesalamine, was proved to be effective and safe in ulcerative colitis. Better efficacy can be achieved with suitable dose, delivery way, formation, and intervention time, which needs further study to verify.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jgh.14911

FYI Curcumin is s blood thinner, it'll make you bleed more and clot harder. It's a double edged sword with UC where we bleed a lot in bms.

My doc recommends curcumin and Boswellia Serrata as supps in addition to mainstream meds. I take curcumin daily. The dose is pretty high to get benefit (3 g which works out to 6 pills for me).

I credit Humira for my remission but think the curcumin doesn’t hurt!

-Lisa

Yes Ambling there seems to be a trend lately of quoting vitamin sales websites as some sort of scientific source. Saw another one last week with cherry picked info from a "study" with no working link.

My experience with curcumin was generally positive. Side effects were that it interacted with the cymbalta I take and caused restless legs. Higher doses of cymbalta also cause RL for me so not sure why that happened.

My ear nose and throat Dr. said people with hiatial hernia should not take curcumin so I stopped using it for maintenance and take it only when UC symptoms arise.

I've read several studies on cucurmin, including the one my GI printed out for me, and I couldnt find a single mention of anyone worried about the potential blood thinning effect for IBD patients. I did find some research discussing if IBD patients in flare-ups SHOULD be put on blood thinners to prevent blood clots, which we are at a higher risk of getting, especially while in a flare. So I'm not sure how curcumin would be a bad thing in that regard?

And the study I read showed 2 g was effective (still a high dose).

And they didn't just study taking it at the same time as mesalamine. There's one study where it was shown to be slightly MORE effective than messlamine.

I really want to know from those criticized the concept (of using turmeric/curcumin), how many have you actually used and are providing N=1 experience? So I suggest, you first try based on science and then tell us if it worked. It will not work with everyone but definitely worth a shot.

Life Extension magazine is a good source to find papers. They definitely cherry-pick science to suit their goal but it saves me time to find articles on the subject I am interested in.

I have been making alcoholic turmeric extract for almost a year and mix with Black seed oil and EVOO (black seed oil has a very strong taste) and take 10ml of each daily. I also take Boswelia capsules daily. It is difficult to find good quality Boswellia capsules (with higher % of Boswellic acid) so I mix it with AKBA capsules. It definitely helps me. So I will keep doing both of these until either of them start bothering me.

IAC, it is the repeated quoting from your life extension magazine that is the issue, compounded by citing an article to do with black cumin, when the thread is about adjuvant use of curcumin.
I think it's reasonable to clarify those things.

A part of the immune system, not the whole immune system, is down regulated by certain biologics - each targeting quite specific pathways. So the use of the phrase "crippling the immune system" can lead to misunderstanding.

Oh look, it's coffeemate! Thanks for your contribution as always!
And I'm sure IAC needs you butting in, lol

Let the grownups chat a little.

Ambling said...
And I'm sure IAC needs you butting in, lol

I am quite capable of defending myself.

Ambling said...
A part of the immune system, not the whole immune system, is down regulated by certain biologics - each targeting quite specific pathways. So the use of the phrase "crippling the immune system" can lead to misunderstanding.

Nobody questions that by suppressing your immune system, biologics put you at increased risk for serious infections, which can specifically include tuberculosis and fungal infections. Not to mention that long-term use of these medications increases the risk of certain cancers, some even have 'black box' warnings.

I don't see how that is not considered crippling your immune system.

and what about boswelia, does it have the same blood thinning properties as curcumin? is it also likely to cause bleeding?

and what about boswelia

I tried boswellia, (aka frankincense), after seeing several double-blind studies indicating that it can be very effective for IBD. At first I was very pleased because it immediately lessened my joint pains. Unfortunately I now have a sensitive stomach, (compared to just a few years ago when my gut was solid cast iron), and boswellia seems to give me IBS symptoms.

But I hope it helps you.

Hmm. Link doesn't work. I wonder why that isn't mentioned in any of the studies then and why my GI didn't mention it when he brought it up to me last year and asked if I'd like to try it. I feel like if it was a real concern for most IBD patients, it would be mentioned in the studies, wouldn't it?

I'm not going to take it anytime soon anyway since I just started two new meds, but I did buy a bottle.

Sara14 said...
I'd like to know more about the blood thinning effect, too. I couldn't find much in relation to IBD when I researched it the other night.

Anticoagulant activities of curcumin and its derivative
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22531131

Blood-thinning foods, drinks, and supplements (turmeric/curcumin, plus that TMC Dong quai people often talk about here)
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322384.php