BANGKOK: Curcumin, an active component of turmeric and part of what gives the spice its yellow hue, is an effective treatment for indigestion, a double-blind trial led by Chulalongkorn University researchers shows.
Assoc Prof Dr Krit Pongpirul, from the university’s Faculty of Medicine, told the Nation on Tuesday that his team had tested the efficacy of curcumin capsules compared to modern proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These drugs reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach for digestion.
The team at the Centre of Excellence in Preventive and Integrative Medicine worked in cooperation with the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
In the paper titled “Curcumin and Proton Pump Inhibitors for Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomised, Double-Blind Controlled Trial”, researchers found that curcumin was as efficient as Omeprazole, a PPI drug, in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with no synergistic effects among 206 patients.
The test group was divided into three: curcumin alone (C), Omeprazole alone (O), and curcumin plus Omeprazole (C+O).
Over 28 days, the C group received two capsules of 250mg curcumin, four times daily. Those in the O group received one capsule of 20mg Omeprazole once daily, while the combination group received both.
Functional dyspepsia symptoms on days 28 and 56 were assessed using the Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment (SODA) score. Secondary outcomes, namely the occurrence of adverse and seriously adverse events, were also assessed.
“Curcuma or turmeric is a spice used by Thais to treat indigestion for generations,” said Krit. “This study is the first time that its efficacy has been compared against modern medicine in a double-blind trial, instead of versus a placebo group like in the past.”
Krit added that researchers found no severe side effects in patients who used curcumin capsules for an extended period, while long-term users of Omeprazole reported symptoms of reduced stomach acids, which affect the absorption of certain nutrients, he added.
Krit said the centre will work with the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation to produce and market curcumin capsules under the brand “ThaiCureMin” for local and foreign markets. To ensure the product is of top quality, only organic ingredients whose origins can be traced and verified will be used, he added. - The Nation/ANN
