Six
hundred and eighty-eight studies, more than 400 of them published
within the last four years, confirm curcumin's remarkable anticarcinogenic,
anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In particular, within
the last year several studies have shown curcumin's potential as
a neuroprotective agent:
- Epidemiological studies showing that in elderly Indian populations,
among whose diet turmeric is a common spice, levels of neurological
diseases such as Alzheimer's are very low.
- A November 2001 study conducted at the Departments of Medicine
and Neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles reported
curcumin slows the progression of Alzheimer's in mice.
In the most recent study, curcumin was shown to exert significant
protection against multiple sclerosis. Researchers gave injections
of 50- and 100-microgram doses of curcumin, three times per week
over a period of 30 days, to a group of mice bred to develop the
experimental form of MS known as EAE, and then watched the mice
for signs of developing MS-like neurological impairment.
By day 15, those mice who had not received curcumin developed EAE
to such an extent that they displayed complete paralysis of both
hind limbs. In contrast, mice given the 50-microgram dose of the
curcumin showed only minor symptoms, such as a temporarily stiff
tail. And mice given the 100-microgram dose fared best of all; they
appeared completely unimpaired throughout the 30 days of the study.
The doses of curcumin that protected the mice against the development
of EAE were roughly equivalent in human terms to those found in
a typical Indian diet. In Asian countries, such as India and China,
where foods spiced with curcumin-containing spices like turmeric
are common fare, reports of MS are extremely rare.
Just how curcumin might work to prevent demyelinization remains
unclear, but researchers at Vanderbilt University believe curcumin
may interrupt the production of IL-12, a protein that plays a key
role in the destruction of the myelin by signaling for the development
of neural antigen-specific Th1 cells, immune cells that then launch
an attack on the myelin sheath.
The typical recommended dosage for curcumin in multiple sclerosis
is 200 to 400 milligrams one to three times a day (usually with
an equivalent amount of bromelain to enhance absorption).
References:
- Natarajan C, Bright JJ. Curcumin inhibits experimental allergic
encephalomyelitis by blocking IL-12 signaling through Janus kinase-STAT
pathway in T lymphocytes. J Immunol 2002;168(12):6506-13.
- Natarajan C, Bright JJ. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma
agonists inhibit experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by blocking
IL-12 production, IL-12 signaling and Th1 differentiation. Genes
Immun 2002;3(2):59-70.
Michael T. Murray, N.D., is widely regarded as one of world's leading authorities on natural medicine. A prolific author, Dr. Murray has written over 20 books on health and nutrition including the best-selling Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and his latest book The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. Dr. Murray is also Director of Product Development and Education for Natural Factors one of the leading manufacturers of natural products.
