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

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/16/2019 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
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
Posted 11/16/2019 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
What does "but not in clinical improvement" mean? I actually bought some recently since my GI asked me if I would like to try it a while back. I'm not going to start it yet because I just started two other meds and I wouldn't know what was working.
Posted 11/16/2019 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/17/2019 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
I cannot tolerate meds but I have been maintaining remission by watching my diet and taking supplements like curcumin. I have heard only one UCer on HW complain about curcumin's blood thinning properties. She was using it to maintain remission but quit when she noticed that it seemed to promote bruising. Those on blood thinners need to consult with their doctors.

You will find many articles showing curcumin's effectiveness for IBD. But I also found that black cumin seed oil seems to also help and that is why it is in my signature:

https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2013/1/what-doctors-dont-know-about-inflammation
black cumin seed oil and its components exert powerful effects that can slow colonic inflammation. Lab studies reveal that pre-treating animals with thymoquinone as extracted from black cumin seed oil completely prevents experimentally-induced colitis.

Importantly, treatment with black cumin seed oil lowers levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Studies have shown that both black cumin seed oil and thymoquinone strongly protect the delicate stomach lining against the injurious effects of alcohol and other toxins, and even against the effects of stress.30,31 Markers of tissue oxidation were sharply reduced.
Posted 11/17/2019 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
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
Posted 11/17/2019 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
IAC - You say you've only tried mesalamines, and that you get out of flares by taking antibiotics.

So, not sure what: "I cannot tolerate meds ..." is all about!

Quoting form a vitamin sales magazine (LifeExtension), though it purports to have 'science based' articles, could mislead people.

Medz, that article draws from so called studies where Curcumin is used as an adjuvant, not on its own - not clear as to what exactly is being shown.
Posted 11/17/2019 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/17/2019 4:38 PM (GMT 0)

Ambling said...
IAC - You say you've only tried mesalamines, and that you get out of flares by taking antibiotics.
So, not sure what: "I cannot tolerate meds ..." is all about!


Yes I have escaped flares with antibiotics, and the last time I used antibiotics was during my last flare three years ago. Since that time I have remained in remission by monitoring my diet and taking supplements such as curcumin and black cumin seed oil. No meds at all.

If you are trying to say that I might be able to tolerate meds STRONGER than mesalamines then maybe that is true. But as I said more than once, I will NEVER knowingly cripple my immune system by taking a biologic to manage a flare. If immunosuppressants turn out to be necessary then I would instead elect surgery to remove my colon. But that is just me. I would never advise anyone against biologics if that is the only way they can manage their disease.

Ambling said...
Quoting form a vitamin sales magazine (LifeExtension), though it purports to have 'science based' articles, could mislead people.


Uniform Charlie said...
Yes Ambling there seems to be a trend lately of quoting vitamin sales websites as some sort of scientific source.

I chose an article from Life Extension magazine because, unlike the abstract posted by the OP, the article was more easily READABLE. But if you guys prefer references from more professional publications then how about this study published in the PUBMED.GOV database which is maintained by The United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=cumin+ulcerative+colitis
Protective effects of black cumin (Nigella sativa) oil on TNBS-induced experimental colitis in rats.
RESULTS:
We found that black cumin oil decreased the proinflammatory cytokines, lactate dehydrogenase, triglyceride, and cholesterol, which were increased in colitis.
CONCLUSIONS:
BCO, by preventing inflammatory status in the blood, partly protected colonic tissue against experimental ulcerative colitis.
Posted 11/17/2019 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/17/2019 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
IAC I didn't read your link and that was not meant to be a shot at you. The one I read last week was suspect but was posted by another member. Carry on.
Posted 11/18/2019 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/18/2019 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Ambling,
Please read my posts before criticizing them. I quoted a study published in PubMed about black cumin because you criticized me for citing an article about black cumin in Life Extension magazine. You said that “Quoting form a vitamin sales magazine (LifeExtension), though it purports to have 'science based' articles, could mislead people.” So I quoted an article from PubMed.

If it bothers you when I say “cripple the immune system” then perhaps it is better to say ”suppress the immune system”. That is why they are called 'immunosuppressants'.

Yes I am lucky that antibiotics have helped me escape flares in the past, otherwise I would have chosen surgery. I don't want to push my luck. That is why I am so careful with my diet to avoid flares so I can be less dependent on antibiotics in the future. Meds work only until they stop working.
Posted 11/18/2019 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/18/2019 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
What right do you have to call out IAC for mentioning black cumin? Get over it. He said that he takes curcumin and shared that black cumin helps as well.

Some of us find that information useful whether they get their information from a health magazine or from MIT’s research dept., the point is those supplements helped them.
Posted 11/18/2019 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/18/2019 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Lets place nice folks. Getting a bit testy here.
Posted 11/18/2019 11:22 PM (GMT 0)

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.
Posted 11/18/2019 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
I would consider being a bubble boy/girl is needed when one's immune system is crippled! Not exactly my experience.

Biologics have small risks in the rare, less than 1 percent of patients, category. Putting that risk into perspective is essential.

I know you, IAC, would never consider Immunomodulators of any sort. But many of us experience great relief from them and have never experienced those things you remind us of often lol.

And the curcumin studies are all small scale, open-label, which are known for exaggerations in effect. Such studies are taken as a grain of salt. Not to say curcumin can't work, but it just hasn't been studied though enough to prove it.
Posted 11/19/2019 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
and what about boswelia, does it have the same blood thinning properties as curcumin? is it also likely to cause bleeding?
Posted 11/19/2019 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/19/2019 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/19/2019 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22531131

Seems like a good anticoagulant (blood thinner). That's great if you aren't bleeding. Not ideal if you are...
Posted 11/19/2019 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 11/19/2019 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
(Not sure why link doesn't work for you)
Try googling : Anticoagulant activities of curcumin and its derivatives

Research is fairly new and as iPoop said, studies are limited.

As always, some may thrive and others not!
Posted 11/19/2019 1:10 PM (GMT 0)

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
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