Turmeric May Reduce Chronic Pain in Adults — Results of a Clinical Study 0 7

The new study involved 30 volunteers aged 40 and older who suffered from moderate chronic pain (rated 4 to 7 on a 10-point scale). All participants kept a food diary and recorded their pain levels three times daily for 21 days using text message surveys.

As part of the experiment, volunteers received turmeric powder in culinary doses — 300 mg, 1 g, or 3 g per day. Some participants received turmeric in its pure form, while others received it combined with black pepper, which contains piperine and theoretically may enhance the absorption of curcumin.

At the end of the study, it was found that the average pain level in all groups significantly decreased compared to the baseline after the three-week period. No differences were found between the groups consuming turmeric with black pepper and those without, as well as among the different dosages — the effects were comparable.

The researchers emphasize that this is a pilot study with a small sample size, and larger and longer clinical trials are needed to confirm the results. Most participants in the current study were middle-aged and older women, which may also influence the outcomes.

The results add new data to the growing body of research on the potential role of turmeric and its active component — curcumin — as a potential natural adjunct for alleviating chronic pain, but they emphasize that the current data are preliminary.