London, UK: A new study suggests that turmeric could be used as a medicine to treat indigestion.
Turmeric contains curcumin, a naturally active compound. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This culinary spice has long been used for the treatment of indigestion in Southeast Asia. The study was published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.
According to the study, turmeric might be as effective as omeprazole, a drug used to reduce excess stomach acid and treat indigestion.
However, it hasn’t been clear how it measures up against conventional drugs for indigestion because there haven’t been any comparative studies.
The researchers studied 206 patients aged 18 to 70 who had recurrent upset stomachs. They were recruited from hospitals in Thailand between 2019 and 2021 and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups for 28 days, as per the statement.
The treatments used in the study were as follows:
- Participants took two large 250 mg capsules of curcumin four times a day along with one small placebo capsule.
- Participants took one small 20 mg omeprazole capsule daily along with two large placebo capsules four times a day.
- Participants received a combination of turmeric and omeprazole.
Omeprazole is a type of medication called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), commonly used to treat dyspepsia or indigestion. Many individuals experience indigestion at some point in their lives.
Typically, it is not indicative of a more severe issue, and people can often manage it on their own. However, long-term use of PPi will cause increased fracture risk, micronutrient deficiencies, and a heightened risk of infection, as per the researchers.
The researchers discovered that taking oral curcumin was safe and well-received by patients. Additionally, all three groups of patients experienced similar improvements in their symptoms.
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