A recent study found that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, may be as effective as omeprazole in treating symptoms of indigestion, with significantly reduced symptoms in both treatment groups over a period of 28 to 56 days. It is clear that a significant reduction was observed. The study, conducted on 206 people in Thailand, suggests promising results, but the researchers acknowledge that it is small and require a larger, longer-term study to further validate the findings. We are calling for further research.
The researchers suggest that this finding may be worth considering in clinical practice.
First-of-its-kind study published in the journal BMJ Evidence-based medicine This study shows that a natural compound found in the culinary spice turmeric may have similar efficacy to omeprazole. acid– Medication reduction in the management of indigestion symptoms.
Turmeric, extracted from the roots of the Curcuma longa plant, contains a compound called curcumin. Curcumin is thought to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and has historically been used in Southeast Asia as a treatment, especially for indigestion-related problems.
Turmeric comes from the roots of the Curcuma longa plant. It contains a naturally active compound called curcumin, which is thought to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and has long been used as a therapeutic agent in Southeast Asia, including to treat indigestion.
However, it is unclear how superior they are to conventional drugs for this indication, largely due to the lack of direct studies.
Researchers therefore studied 206 patients aged 18 to 70 with recurrent stomach upset of unknown cause (functional dyspepsia), recruited from Thai hospitals between 2019 and 2021, for 3 days for 28 days. randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups.
These were: turmeric (2 large capsules of curcumin 250 mg 4 times a day) and 1 small dummy capsule (69 patients). Omeprazole (20 mg small capsule once daily and 2 dummy large capsules 4 times daily) (68 patients), and turmeric and omeprazole combination (69 patients).
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI for short. PPIs are used to treat functional dyspepsia. Symptoms of functional dyspepsia include feeling excessively full after eating (postprandial satiety), feeling full after only a small meal (early satiety), and pain and/or burning in the stomach and/or food. Pipe (epigastric pain).
However, researchers note that long-term use of PPIs is associated with increased risk of fractures, micronutrient deficiencies, and increased risk of infections.
Of the 206 patients enrolled, 151 completed the study: 20 in the curcumin group, 19 in the omeprazole group, 19 in the curcumin group, and 19 in the omeprazole group. In the combination treatment group, 16 of her patients dropped out.
At the start of the study, patients in all three groups had similar clinical characteristics and dyspepsia scores, as assessed by the Dyspepsia Severity Assessment Score (SODA). Patients were re-evaluated after 28 days and again after 56 days.
SODA scores increased by day 28 for pain (-4.83, -5.46, and -6.22) and other symptoms (-2.22, -2.32, and -2.31) in the combination group, curcumin alone group, and omeprazole alone group. showed a significant decrease in severity. , Each.
These improvements were even stronger after 56 days for pain (-7.19, -8.07, and -8.85, respectively) and other symptoms (-4.09, -4.12, and -3.71, respectively).
SODA also captures satisfaction scores. The researchers suggest that these change little over time among curcumin users, possibly related to its taste and odor.
Although no serious side effects were reported, the researchers noted that liver function tests showed some deterioration among curcumin users who carried excess weight.
They acknowledge the small size of the study and several other limitations, including the short intervention period and lack of long-term monitoring data. Larger-scale, longer-term research is needed.
Nevertheless, the researchers concluded that “this multicenter randomized controlled trial provides very reliable evidence for the treatment of functional dyspepsia,” and that “the novel findings of our study , which may justify consideration of curcumin in clinical practice.”
Reference: “Curcumin and proton pump inhibitors for functional dyspepsia: a randomized double-blind controlled trial” Pradermchai Kongkam, Wichittra Khongkha, Chawin Lopimpisuth, Chitsanucha Chumsri, Prach Kosaruswadee, Phanupong Phutrakool, Sittichai Khamsai, Kittisak sawanyawisuth, Thanyachai Sura , written by Pochamana Phiralprap, Tanwa Buamahakul, Saraut Siwamogsattam, Jayenjira Ansushin, Pratyanan Poonniam, Krutanit Wanaratna, Montaka Teerachaisakul, Kurit Pompirul, September 11, 2023, BMJ Evidence-based medicine.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2022-112231
This study was funded by the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Foundation.
