Turmeric has long been used as a remedy to treat indigestion in Southeast Asia. Until now, no studies have compared it to conventional drugs, but researchers say this trial could pave the way for clinical use.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 10:03, United Kingdom
Research suggests that turmeric may be as effective as medication in treating indigestion.
This spice contains a naturally occurring active compound called curcumin, which has long been thought to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
It has long been used in Southeast Asia as a remedy, including to treat indigestion.
However, until now, there have been no reviews comparing natural remedies and conventional medicines.
A study published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine found that turmeric may be as effective as omeprazole in reducing excess stomach acid.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI for short) that is used to treat indigestion.
Proton pumps are enzymes in the lining of the stomach that help produce acids to digest food.
Omeprazole prevents the proton pump from working properly, reducing the amount of acid the stomach makes.
Researchers recruited 206 patients aged 18 to 70 with recurrent dyspepsia from hospitals in Thailand between 2019 and 2021.
They were divided into three groups. One person was given turmeric (two 250 mg curcumin capsules four times a day) and a small dummy capsule. One person took omeprazole (one 20 mg capsule per day and two large dummy capsules four times per day). and one group received turmeric and omeprazole.
Patients were re-evaluated after 28 days and again after 56 days.
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The researchers found that patients in all three groups experienced similar improvement in symptoms.
No serious side effects were reported, but liver function tests showed some deterioration in overweight patients taking turmeric.
The researchers acknowledged the small size of the study and other limitations, including the short intervention period and lack of long-term monitoring data. Further large-scale and long-term research is needed.
However, they concluded that the trial “provides very reliable evidence for the treatment of functional dyspepsia.”
The findings may justify the use of turmeric in clinical practice, the researchers said.
