A curry a day...
By Steve Robinson
Imagine you go to the doctor suffering from joint pains. After some tests, he confirms that you have rheumatoid arthritis. "Well, this is a degenerative condition," he says. "At this time, I think the best thing for me to do is prescribe a Chicken Bhuna with basmati rice. And remember the naan bread."
Sounds like Doctor needs some of his own medicine. Yet scientists in the US have recently discovered how turmeric - a key flavour and colour agent in curries and other spice dishes - works in reducing swellings and provides a therapeutic effect. It is well known that the extract has anti-inflammatory properties, but only investigation in the last few months has uncovered the potential for clinical use.
The team at the University of Arizona found, following on from earlier work where they identified turmeric reducing joint swelling in rats, that a specific extract - curcumin - was most effective at slowing or halting the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in the rats. The extract worked by preventing a protein which leads to production of inflammation proteins. These are responsible for the autoimmune disease.
There is even evidence that turmeric extract could be used to treat other disorders, such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.
However, before you start downing that Dansak or munching on a Masala, note that so far there is little evidence to support the idea that simply ingesting the turmeric will do any good.
"I do not think there is any evidence that countries that eat a lot of turmeric have a lower frequency of rheumatoid arthritis," said Professor Robert Moots, professor of rheumatology at Liverpool University. "So simply eating more spices is not likely to be effective clinically.
Experts added that though new drugs may be developed from these initial results, clinical trials were required before turmeric supplements could be recommended for medical use.
Still, if a link is found between the two, then Meals-on-Wheels could quickly acquire a taste of India.
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