Comments on: What’s The Excitement About Turmeric?

By: Bad nutrition from Science: So What? « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:19:24 +0000

[...] concerns about the limited bioavailability of curcumin when taken orally (something discussed on this blog and [...]

By: Anil

Anil — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:30:55 +0000

Hi,

I agree that eating turmeric will not prevent cancer . A proper diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and less in fatty foods can lead to reduced cancer . there is no magical bullet for cancer or any other deadly disease . Indians eat more of vegetables , fruits and less of meat and thus have lesser cancer incidence than US .

By: jonhw

jonhw — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:52:45 +0000

There are plenty of options to make money from turmeric-related patents – for example, I think there may already be a patent or two related to increasing bioavailability… Big pharma is much more likely to try to research and profit from turmeric (sometimes in ethically problematic ways) than to make futile efforts to quash research. Some in the pharma industry are also already making money from selling nutritional supplements without a good evidence base (including turmeric-related pills).

I’ve got no brief to defend big pharma – but to critically engage with the industry it is important to understand how it does and does not work.

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:22:31 +0000

I have been looking about for some information about turmeric since it has become a hot topic on a horse forum (don’t ask) I frequent. CAM treatments of any sort are highly appreciated in the “alternative” horse community and those of us who ask awkward questions of such credulousness receive very unsatisfactory replies. Recently a flood of turmeric advice, for both humans and horses has appeared – pages and pages of references to studies -”studies”? from all over. Although loath to believe that curcumin (or any other substance) is a panacea, I do wonder if there could be anything in the frequently made point that, since there can be no patent (can there?) on turmeric, Big Pharma could somehow quash useful lines of study? We know we’re not talking knights in shining armour on either side here…………………Any thoughts?

By: Curry can cure cancer, say scientists « Stuff And Nonsense

Curry can cure cancer, say scientists « Stuff And Nonsense — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:49:10 +0000

[...] HolfordWatch blog has some discussion of curcumin, and quote Catherine Collins and Abel Pharmboy: [...]

By: Tara Parker-Pope and Jonny Bowden « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:47:41 +0000

[...] of opinion concerning the implicit clinicalclaims made for the state of the evidence about turmeric and [...]

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:34:07 +0000

The FACT link is not correct – here is the link to the Consumer Lab report:

http://www.consumerlab.com/news/Turmeric_Curcumin_Supplement_Tests/02_06_2008/

“WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — FEBRUARY 6, 2008 — Turmeric supplements have become popular in recent years but ConsumerLab.com warned today that some products contain high amounts of lead. Recent tests found a popular brand to contain 18.7 mcg of lead in a daily serving — the highest amount ever reported by ConsumerLab.com. A daily serving of another brand was contaminated with 8.3 mcg of lead. These amounts are well above those to which people are normally exposed and should be avoided. The State of California, for example, requires supplements with more than 0.5 mcg of lead to carry a warning label. Lead-contaminated products should be particularly avoided by children — who can experience lead toxicity with only 6 mcg per day — and pregnant women. …”

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:05:48 +0000

from the current edition of FACT, a reference to a report on lead contamination of tumeric supplements:

http://www.medicinescomplete.com/journals/fact/current/fact1302a09n06.htm

By: dvnutrix

dvnutrix — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:29:10 +0000

Bob, it will be interesting to see if that study is replicated in other mouse or animal models and what the implications are for therapeutic dosages. Similarly, if it is effective for something more than oxidative stress relating to a single dose of a substance. There is a study in ageing mice that indicates that curcumin might be rather more effective than a derivative for some conditions. For the time being, it still looks like it holds that the commercial preparations that are currently available do not necessarily do what it says on the packaging.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:29:28 +0000

The bioavailability questions may be unfounded as it appears that the metabolites of curcumin, not included in the bioavailability criterion are potentially more effective than curcumin.
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/131/8/2090
Therefore, effective doses may be achievable, despite limited absorption as curcumin.