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Special Curcumin Formulation Relieves Osteoarthritis SymptomsDecember 2010 A recent study in Italy concluded that “These results show that Meriva? is clinically effective in management and treatment of osteoarthritis and suggest that the increased stability and better absorption of curcumin induced by complexation with phospholipids have clinical relevance, setting the stage for larger and more prolonged studies.” Curcumin has been extensively researched to assess its efficacy in the treatment of chronic diseases, and especially inflammation, in over 2,500 preclinical investigations. There are several challenges with curcumin pharmacokinetics, including instability at physiological pH values, poor oral absorption and quick elimination. However, some researchers believe, and some research demonstrates, that these challenges can be improved by complexing curcumin with phospholipids, specifically phosphatidylcholine (PC). Meriva-SR? Curcumin Phytosome formula is such a complex, combining curcumin and PC. The current study, published in the journal Panminerva Medica, tested Meriva-SR? Curcumin Phytosome formula to see if it had any effect on osteoarthritis symptoms. Authors of the study said that Meriva improved curcumin??s utilization in the human body by a combination of higher hydrolytic stability and better intestinal absorption. Meriva was studied in a three-month trial of 50 patients with X-ray-diagnosed osteoarthritis (OA) in one or both knees to assess the effects on their inflammation symptoms. The 50 patients were sorted into two groups. Patients from group A took only their prescribed medication along with one gram of Meriva per day, corresponding to 200 mg of unformulated curcumin. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire was utilized to rate the patients?? OA symptoms. The questionnaire scores were evaluated at the beginning and at the conclusion of the three-month study. A treadmill walking test was also employed to assess mobility and walking distance before knee joint pain occurred. Edema was evaluated and found to exist in 88% of the 50 patients at the beginning of the study. C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels were measured to evaluate the inflammation status of the patients. The results showed a significant decrease of the WOMAC median score for pain, stiffness and physical function in patients from the Meriva group, where this score changed from 83.4 at the beginning of the study to 34.8 by the end of the three-month trial. In the control group, this score only decreased from 80.6 to 78.8. Walking ability increased from 76 m to 332 m (>400% improvement) in the Meriva group versus a 30.8% improvement in the control group at thee months. Edema in both groups was reduced. Meriva patients experienced a significant decrease in CRP from 168 mg/L at inclusion to a final level of 13.1 mg/L at three months, with a significant improvement detected after two months. The control group began the trial at 175 mg/L and at the end of the trial had decreased to only 112 mg/L. The Meriva patients had a significantly greater reduction in CRP levels, which were almost normalized, while in the control group the CRP level remained elevated by the end of the three-month trial. Previous research has indicated that this proprietary curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex had a superior bioavailability to curcumin alone, with an over 20-fold improvement of plasma curcuminoid concentration. The overall results from this new clinical study suggest that Meriva, when integrated with conventional medication, improves the general quality of life of OA patients, decreasing the painful symptoms associated with the disease, improving joint functionality and reducing the consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Panminerva Medica 52(2 Suppl 1):55-62, 2010