Key Takeaways
- Osteoarthritis (OA) affects over 32 million adults in the United States, involving the entire joint and causing inflammation, pain, stiffness, and mobility loss, with primary OA being the more common form without a known identifiable cause.
- Pharmacologic agents like acetaminophen, intra-articular glucocorticoid injections, tramadol, and others are used for OA management, while dietary supplements, including turmeric, though not strongly recommended, may offer some relief based on limited evidence, especially for knee OA.
- Turmeric has shown potential in reducing knee pain and improving physical function in OA, but caution is advised due to limited high-quality studies, varied product formulations, potential drug interactions, and uncertain optimal dosing, emphasizing the need for a prudent approach when considering its use.
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects more than 32 million adults in the United States.1 It is a disease of the entire joint, which includes the bone, cartilage, ligaments, fat, and the tissues lining the joint, resulting in inflammation, pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility.2
Primary OA, in which an identifiable cause is not known, is the more common form of the disease.3 In secondary OA, inflammation, trauma, metabolic or endocrine disorders, and/or congenital factors can be identified as the cause of damage to the joint.3
The management of OA is personalized for each patient and it is based on the severity of joint involvement, on comorbid conditions, and on the patient’s overall quality of life. Non-pharmacologic strategies for managing OA include weight loss, when appropriate, exercise programs, and, in severe cases, surgery.3
Pharmacologic agents used in OA include acetaminophen, oral and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intra-articular glucocorticoid injections, tramadol, duloxetine, topical capsaicin, intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections, and opioid analgesics.3 Notably, with the exception of chondroitin when used for OA of the hand, dietary supplements are not recommended by the 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.4
Nonetheless, patients often resort to using dietary supplements. One such supplement that has been promoted for the management of OA is turmeric.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a plant that has long been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent.5 Its primary active component is curcumin, a yellow-colored constituent.
Curcumin has been suggested to possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects as well as other health benefits.6 As such, turmeric is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and others.6
Oral turmeric is generally well-tolerated. The most frequently reported adverse effects (AEs) associated with its active constituent, curcumin, include gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, and dizziness, which are generally mild in nature.7 Turmeric should be used with caution in pregnant patients due to possible stimulation of the uterus.6
Additionally, consuming large quantities of turmeric may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity.6 Although there is limited and conflicting evidence regarding interactions between turmeric and other drugs, practitioners and patients should be made aware of the potential for these interactions.
