Turmeric has controversial effects on stomach health

The study, published Monday in the medical journal BMJ, compared how more than 150 people with dyspepsia or stomach upset responded to either the drug omeprazole, turmeric, which contains the compound curcumin, or a combination of both.

As reported by CNN, on days 28 and 56 of treatment, people in the study were assessed for their symptoms, which may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or early feeling of fullness, using the Dyspepsia Severity Assessment, a questionnaire that assesses the severity of indigestion.

According to the study results, researchers found no significant differences in symptoms between the groups taking the drug, turmeric, or a combination of the two.

“In addition to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, curcumin/turmeric may be an option for the treatment of dyspepsia with efficacy comparable to omeprazole,” said lead study author Dr. Krit Pongpirul, assistant professor in the department of preventive and social medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to Dr. Pongpirul, turmeric has long been used by Southeast Asians to treat stomach discomfort and other inflammatory conditions. Its use in medicine dates back hundreds of years, according to the National Library of Medicine.

In the United States, the bright yellow spice’s main medicinal use was as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant dietary supplement to relieve osteoarthritis and irritable bowel syndrome, the researcher added.

But this is the first clinical study to directly compare curcumin/turmeric with omeprazole in the treatment of dyspepsia, Pongpoirul said.

It makes sense that the study would look at turmeric’s effect on stomach upset, since its curcumin content has been studied for a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis, says gastroenterologist Dr. Yuying Lo.

Some studies have shown that curcumin was beneficial when combined with other medications, she added. But Dr. Lo had a few questions about the new study.

The scale the researchers used to measure symptoms is not the most common one used to measure improvement in stomach upset, she said.

Lo would also like to see what the results would be if symptoms were measured more often.

“I don’t think this study alone is enough for me to say, ‘I recommend this,'” she said. “Proceed with caution.”

But with many studies currently being conducted looking at the compound’s effects on various inflammatory conditions, more information could be gained, Dr. Lo added.

“Curcumin is here to stay,” she said.

Should you increase the amount of turmeric in your diet to improve digestion? Talk to your doctor first, warns Dr. Law.

There have been several case studies of curcumin and liver damage, and it’s important to make sure turmeric doesn’t interact badly with any of the other medications you’re taking, she added.

“Consumers should be aware of the side effects of curcumin extracts, such as allergies and the risk of bleeding, especially for those taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs,” Dr. Pongpuri said.

However, curcumin and turmeric are “generally considered safe when consumed in amounts typically found in food,” he added.

Typically, turmeric spices contain about 3% curcumin, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The 2 gram dose found in this study is relatively low compared to the extracts typically found in curcumin supplements, Dr. Pongpuri said. It may not be necessary to take turmeric and omeprazole at the same time if simply taking one or the other works similarly, reducing the risk of side effects, he said.

While she needs to do more research before she recommends turmeric as a treatment, Dr. Lo said she thinks it makes sense to talk to your doctor about whether you should try it in addition to your medications.

However, she adds a caveat: People trying these alternatives should spend time with them every two to four weeks to see what the full effect is.

“If it’s useful, that’s great,” Law added. “If not, then this is the most difficult part of treating the disorder… Not all patients are the same or have the same response to medications.”