Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a plant in the ginger family, is native to Southeast Asia and is widely cultivated commercially throughout that region; the rhizome is used as a culinary spice and traditional medicine. Turmeric is used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine; it has been traditionally used for disorders of the skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, and digestive system. Turmeric is marketed as a dietary supplement and is promoted for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and others.
Recently, low-grade inflammation has been recognized as a state in which systemic inflammatory mediators are elevated relative to normal levels, but not as high is as seen in acute inflammation. This type of inflammation has not been clearly defined but it is considered to be related to aging, obesity, and an unhealthy lifestyle, in the absence of obvious infection or tissue injury. Researchers here investigated the effect of turmeric extracts on chronic inflammation and general health parameters in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 90 healthy but overweight subjects aged 50 to 69 years. Participants took two capsules containing turmeric extract or placebo daily for 12 weeks; serum inflammatory markers were measured and participants completed 2 mental health related questionnaires.
At the end of the trial the turmeric treatment group had a significantly lower body weight and body mass index than the placebo group, and significantly lower serum levels of two inflammation markers. The authors conclude that turmeric extracts may ameliorate chronic low-grade inflammation and thus help to improve mental health and mood disturbance.
