‘Curry ingredient more effective than paracetamol at easing painful injuries’

Turmeric is more effective than popular painkillers at easing the agony of sports injuries, new research suggests.

After less than three weeks, taking a key component of the Indian staple spice, known as curcumin, eases injured rugby players’ discomfort just as much paracetamol or ibuprofen, but without their side effects, a study found.

Those opting for medication over the curry ingredient are four times more likely to suffer gastro-related complications, the research adds.

Study author, Dr. Francesco Di Pierro, from the Milan, Italy-based pharmaceutical company Velleja Research, said: “This study suggests the naturally-derived, curcumin-based product could represent a promising safe, analgesic remedy in painful osteo-muscular conditions associated with intense, high impact, physical activities.”

The researchers believe curcumin may also benefit sufferers of inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis patients, without causing the complications associated with many existing treatments.

Curcumin has been used as an herbal remedy in arthritis, cancer and heart disease.

The researchers analysed 50 rugby players from the Italian premier Piacenza club south of Milan.

The players were suffering bone or muscle problems as a result of incidents, such as repeated tackling.

Half of the study’s participants were given the one gram curcumin-extract tablet Algocur, which is known as Turmeric+ in the UK, twice a day for up to 10 days. The remainder took painkillers.

All of the study’s participants’ physical states were evaluated regularly over 20 days to determine any symptom improvement.

The findings were published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences journal.

Turmeric may prevent osteoporosis, research revealed in May last year.

The popular Indian spice helps to build and repair bone mass in the elderly, a study by Genoa University found.

Taking a turmeric supplement improves bone density by up to seven per cent over six months, the research adds.

A compound in turmeric, known as curcumin, is thought to balance out cells that remove ageing parts of bone before it is replaced, according to previous findings.

Almost three quarters of elderly people suffer declining bone density, which can cause osteoporosis.

The researchers analysed otherwise healthy men and women with an average age of 70 who were all suffering declining bone density.

Bones in their heels, jaws and fingers were measured at the start of the study using ultrasound scanning.

Turmeric was combined with soy lecithin to prevent it from being destroyed by the stomach, allowing it to reach the small intestine where it is absorbed.

Just one patient experienced a side effect

Dr. Di Pierro said: “Only one (4 per cent) subject treated with Algocur experienced adverse events whereas four (16 per cent) subjects treated with conventional analgesic drugs reported gastric pain as an adverse event.

“It might prevent the common gastric side effects associated with the use of many anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, even though the dose was higher than that recommended for chronic treatment of osteoarthritis.”

Results further reveal those taking curcumin are more likely to stick to their treatment regimen.

Former player and director of the London Scottish Rugby Club, Angus Stewart, 65, who takes two turmeric tablets a day and was not involved in the study, said: “I was much more comfortable whilst exercising and recovered more quickly.

“After a day in the gym I found the feeling in my joints felt the same as when I was younger. Now I feel I can train comfortably.”