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Turmeric, a spice that is used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve arthritis pain, is being touted increasingly as a nutritional supplement for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In this randomized trial, researchers in Australia evaluated the effectiveness of Curcuma longa (turmeric) extract in 70 patients (mean age, 62) with symptomatic knee OA and ultrasound-defined effusion–synovitis.
Patients received 1000 mg of Curcuma longa or placebo daily for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, scores on a visual-analog scale had improved significantly more in patients who received Curcuma longa than in placebo recipients (−23.8 mm vs. −14.6 mm on a 100-mm scale). Curcuma longa also improved pain and function as measured on a standardized OA quest…