A double-blinded, randomized, parallel grouped, phase III comparative study of Japanese White Turmeric extract and placebo in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee and or hip

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis is a common disease among middle aged and elderly people and paracetamol and NSAIDs, which can both cause side effects, are often used to manage symptoms like pain. This study aimed to test if Japanese White Turmeric (JWT), a new variant of turmeric, containing labdane terpenoid and hardly any curcumin, would lessen symptoms from osteoarthritis and reduce the consumption of rescue medication, without causing side effects. Methods: Volunteers (n=120) with osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip were randomly allocated to either daily treatment with JWT (12.8 mg) or placebo for 6 months. Primary effect variables, pain and physical function and secondary effect variables, stiffness and global severity of the disease (PGAD) were scored on WOMAC questionnaires initially and after 1, 2, 3 and 6 months of treatment. Rescue medication taken by participants were self-registered in a diary. Results: JWT treatment showed a statistically significant reduction in WOMAC pain after 1, 2 and 3 months (p<0.0003). After 6 months this decline was still statistically significant and superior to placebo (p<0.041). Effect size was 4.961±2.366 (n=40) for treatment group vs (n=27) for placebo), 95% confidence interval was 9.686 to -0.2359, p< 0.039. An identical pattern was observed when testing physical function, joint stiffness and PGAD. The consumption of paracetamol was significantly lowered after 3 and 6 months of active treatment (p<0.014 and p<0.050) respectively vs placebo. A similar pattern was observed for NSAIDs. No serious side effects were reported and minor side effects were equally represented in both groups. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the herbal remedy, Japanese White Turmeric significantly alleviates symptoms of osteoarthritis, including pain and lower the consumption of rescue medication.