Heartburn-fighting anti-inflammatory spice as effective as antacids

2023-09-20 08:05:00, Shëndeti CNA

Turmeric may be a treatment for indigestion and even as effective as antacids, according to a recent study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Researchers studied the properties of curcumin, the main component of the golden spice, and compared them to the active ingredient omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (prazole) that reduces gastric acid secretion.

Curcumin has demonstrated a number of beneficial properties in the laboratory, including anti-inflammatory and antiviral.

Turmeric has a prominent place in the traditional medicine of many peoples such as in Southeast Asia, who used the spice as a natural remedy against stomach problems such as dyspepsia, a condition associated with severe discomfort in the stomach area and symptoms of possible such as feeling full after eating, pain and heartburn.

On the other hand, omeprazole is a common treatment for stomach disorders, but not without side effects, as proton pump inhibitors have been associated with nutritional deficiencies and increased risk of hip, joint and spine fractures, so special care is needed. .

The advice is that people suffering from osteoporosis should be careful.

Researchers randomized 206 participants aged 18 to 70 into three groups, taking curcumin supplements, omeprazole and a combination of the two, respectively, for 28 days, measuring the effectiveness of the three separate treatments based on the severity of dyspepsia. The result of the evaluation of the severity of dyspepsia - SODA).

After another four and then eight weeks, the results showed a significant improvement in the intensity of pain and other indigestion symptoms in participants in all three groups. The researchers reported that the taste or smell of curcumin did not appear to affect how satisfied patients were with the treatment.

While the findings are promising, the study had limitations, such as the small population sample and the short treatment period, for which there is a clear need for larger, longer-term studies, according to the researchers.

However, it does not deny that "this multicenter randomized controlled trial provides very reliable evidence for the treatment of functional dyspepsia, with new findings possibly justifying the consideration of incorporating curcumin into clinical practice," according to their statements in a press release. print./ CNA